Martin Bergert
PhD student

Martin studies the formation of blebs and lamellipodia in cultured cells and their specific functions during cell migration. Using molecular and biophysical approaches he focuses on questions like ‘How do cells polarize their protrusions?’ or ‘Why and how cells change the type of protrusion they form?’

Annett Boden
Master student

Annett studies cortical assembly dynamics using blebs as a model system. She investigates the role of potential actin nucleators on de novo cortex assembly in a quantitative manner.

Priyamvada Chugh
PhD student

Priyamvada studies the spatial organization and regulation of the cellular actin cortex.

Andrew G. Clark
PhD student

Andrew is interested in understanding the interplay between actin and myosin in the mammalian cell cortex, both through studying the dynamics of these proteins as well as their coordinated effects on physical properties such as surface tension.

Alba Diz Muñoz
Postdoc

Alba studies the function and the molecular and physical mechanisms leading to the formation of lamellipodia, filopodia and blebs in cells migrating during zebrafish gastrulation (collaboration with the lab of C.P. Heisenberg).

Stephanie von Kannen
Lab technician

Stephanie works on developing tools for hanging the mechanical properties of the cortex in a controlled manner.

Andrea Pereira
Postdoc

Andrea investigates cortex mechanics during symmetric and asymmetric cell division.