I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering and an Associate Fellow at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies.
My research investigates the mechanics of biomolecular systems in health, disease, and treatment, aimed at discovering and harnessing the relationships between their molecular structures, chemo-mechanical properties, and biological functions. I employ a range of molecular modelling and simulation techniques (like an atomic-resolution microscope), and create a new set of multiscale and multiphysics methods (like a lens with perspectives spanning different length scales). These efforts enable us not only to appreciate the complex biomolecular events in our body, but also to manipulate and understand the processes with a unique mechanical view. This computational framework can be useful in many areas, among which I am particular intrigued by the enigmatic roles of mechanics in cancer immunotherapies and neurological disorders.
Prior to joining AU, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge University on molecularly tailored polymers, and at Oxford University on neuron mechanics. Before that, I completed my PhD study at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln on how the thermo-mechanical waves propagate in deforming nonlinear viscoelastic materials.
