Open Thesis Projects
--- German only --- (to be updated)
Literatur: Eder et al. 2016
Ansprechpartner: Dr. Ingrid Weiss
--- German only --- (to be updated)
Literatur: Weiss et al. 2013
Ansprechpartner: Dr. Ingrid Weiss
--- German only --- (to be updated)
Literatur: Schönitzer & Weiss 2007
Ansprechpartner: Dr. Ingrid Weiss
Biological cells are not onle able to sense and recognices biochemical signals but also mechanical properties of their environment, such as the rigidity of their extracellular matrix (ECM). Interestingly, cells are optimized to react differently to their natural environment. An example are cardiomyocytes (heart cells). When cultured in a self-similar mechanical environment (rigidity ~ 12 kPa), function and morphology optimize during the development into a confluent tissue. Similar optimization processes are observed in other muscle cells, such as C2C12 cells. The investigation of mechanosensing and signaltransduction dynamics in muscle cells is based on in vitro observations on ECM models, g.h. hydrogels. In particular we focus on the rigidity of the hydrogel as well as the adhesion functionalization.
We are particularily interested in dynamic regulation processes of muscle cells, their interaction between each other and controll strategies. Typical applied methods are cell biology and complex numerical analysis methods.
Literature: Hörning et al. Biophys. J. 2012, Hörning et al. Scientific Reports 2017
Person in charge: Dr. Marcel Hörning
In a recent study ["Three-dimensional cell geometry controls excitbable membrane signaling in Dictyostelium cells"], we showed that PIP3 lipid distributions on the membrane of Dictyostelium cells can show various dynamics, by observing and analysing the entire three-dimensional membrane over time. Those dynamics can be classified as spiral waves, standing waves and oscillations, similar as observed in other excitable systems. Despite the groundbreaking findings a lot of questions remain to be answered. One of these questions point to the signaling dynamics on different membrane compartments.
This investigation is based on image and signal analysis of already observed data, as well as statistical evaoluation.
Literature: Hörning and Shibata, BioRxiv, 278853, 2018
Person in charge: Dr. Marcel Hörning
Special lectures
Lecturer: Dr. Marcel Hörning
Schedule: Winter Semester (annually) (since 2022!)
Scale: 5 SWS (lecture + practical exersice)
Abstract of the lecture:
- Basics of the heart as a modell-system
Structure, function and electrophysiology of the heart
Concept of excitability and wave propagation - Research und medicine
Diseases and therapeutic methods (AED, ICD, etc.)
Experimental and numerical methods (in-vitro, in-vivo, ex-vivo, in-silico) - Basics of modeling cardiac dynamics
Mathematical principles of modeling heart dynamics
Introduction to modeling (Matlab) - Implementation of a spiral wave in a 2D heart tissue
Using Matlab as the programming language
Link to the lecture: @CAMPUS
Lecturer: Dr. Ingrid Weiss
Schedule: Sommer-Semester (annually)
Scale: 12 SWS (lecture + practical exersice)
Abstract of the lecture:
--- German only --- (to be updated)
Link to the lecture: @CAMPUS
Schedule: Winter Semester (annually)
Scale: 4 SWS (lecture + tutorium)
Abstract of the lecture:
Numerical analysis of a biological data set using numerical methods; Independent project work Problem-based and independent elaboration of a project by implementing an automated numerical analysis e.g. image data and time series, or a simulation. The projects can be chosen from a list, which consisting of topics from different areas of biology and technical biology. The focus is on the implementation of an analysis routine in Matlab or another self-selected programming language. The implemented program will be presented at the end of the semester in the form of a presentation and discussed with other students. The projects are supervised, and can be worked on alone or in teams of two.
Link to the lecture: @CAMPUS
