Biophysical studies of living matter

Living matter operates at the frontier of soft matter physics, presenting an intriguing interplay of mechanical, dynamical, and biological complexity. The SoMeX Lab is interested in the physical principles that govern the behavior of living systems, ranging from cellular assemblies to tissues and microbial communities. By using high-resolution microscopy and quantitative image analysis, our research spans a variety of scales and systems, with the overarching goal of revealing the universal mechanisms that drive complex biological processes. A major focus of the lab is on collective migration and tissue dynamics, where we investigate how groups of cells move and interact to accomplish biological functions. By studying processes such as wound healing, or jamming and unjamming transitions, we aim to understand how physical forces and mechanical properties regulate critical phenomena like morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. In addition to eukaryotic systems, we are also interested in collective bacterial motility, where dense bacterial populations exhibit coordinated movement, such as swarming, clustering, and dynamic pattern formation, which are shaped by a combination of hydrodynamic interactions, chemical signaling, and mechanical forces. These studies not only provide insights into the physics of active matter but also have implications for understanding biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.