Understanding the Effects of Dynamic Mechanotransduction on Stem Cell Signaling and Differentiation Using Artificial, Magnetically Actuated Cilia.

Roel Kooi received his BSc degree in Molecular Life Sciences in 2017 from Wageningen University, after completing his thesis research in the group of Prof. Aldrik Velders on micron-scale functionalization of microfluidic channels for sensing purposes. He did his MSc studies of Molecular Life Sciences also at Wageningen University (2017-2020), with a thesis in the group of Prof. Jasper van der Gucht on unraveling mechanical convolution in indentation experiments by comparing experimental indentation results to finite element simulations. As a part of his MSc curriculum, he completed a six month internship at the university of Ulm, Germany, working in the group of prof. Alexander Kühne on the synthesis of colloidal particles exhibiting Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence. Roel is working as a PhD candidate in the research group of Prof. Jaap den Toonder in the Microsystems section, in close collaboration with Prof. Jan de Boer and the BioInterface Science group. Roel's research focuses on the influence of dynamic mechanotransduction on the development of stem cells, aiming for a better understanding of stem cell differentiation for regenerative therapy purposes.