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Other Groups at ITP

Research Interests

• Biomechanics
• Nonlinear dynamics
• Reaction diffusion
• Phase transitions
• Nonequilibrium dynamics
• Systems biology

Short Vita

Since Nov. 2005

Phd student in the BIOMS-Group of Ulrich Schwarz at Bioquant, University of Heidelberg.

Sep. 2005

Diploma in physics, University of Heidelberg and Weizmann Institute of Science with supervisors Joachim Spatz and Samuel Safran.

2000-2005

Studies of physics, University of Heidelberg.

Awards

• Otto-Haxel-Prize for an outstanding Diploma thesis in theoretical physics, University of Heidelberg. (2006)

Publications, Conference Contributions, Theses

Publications

1. Dynamics of cellular focal adhesions on deformable substrates: consequences for cell force microscopy. A. Nicolas, A. Besser, and S. A. Safran. Biophysical Journal, in press. (2008)
2. Coupling biochemistry and mechanics in cell adhesion: a model for inhomogeneous stress fiber contraction. A. Besser and U. S. Schwarz. New Journal of Physics 9, 425. (2007)
3. Force induced adsorption and anisotropic growth of focal adhesions. A. Besser and S. A. Safran. Biophysical Journal 90, 3469-3484. (2006)
4. Formation of focal adhesion-stress fibre complexes coordinated by adhesive and non-adhesive surface domains. B. Zimerman , M. Arnold, J. Ulmer, J. Blummel, A. Besser, J. P. Spatz and B. Geiger. Nanobiotechnology, 151, 62-66. (2004)

Talks and conference contributions

• Talk: Coupling signaling and mechanics in a theoretical model for cell adhesion. World Biomaterial Congress, Amsterdam, Netherlands. (2008)
• Talk: Modeling stress fiber contraction dynamics and the quantification of zyxin mechanosensitivity. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (2008)
• Talk: Cytoskeleton nanosurgery Part II: Modeling the retraction dynamics of stress fibers after laser cutting. DPG-Tagung, Berlin, Germany. (2008)
• Poster: Coupling biochemistry and mechanics in cell adhesion. Pierre-Gilles de Gennes winter school. Cargese, Corsica, France. (2008)
• Talk: Modelling the Interactions of Biochemistry and Mechanics in Cell Adhesion. MPI fuer Metallforschung, Stuttgart, Germany. (2007)
• Poster: Modelling inhomogeneous stress fiber contractions: An interplay of biochemistry and mechanics. Minerva School and Student Symposium, Harnack House, Berlin, Germany. (2007)
• Talk: Modelling the spatially inhomogeneous contraction of stress fibers. DPG-Tagung, Regensburg, Germany. (2007)
• Talk: Focal Adhesions and the actin-cytoskeleton: A mechanical and biochemical feedback system. Cell Functions @ Interfaces, Schloss Ringberg, Rottach-Egern, Germany. (2006)
• Talk: Extrazellulaere Matrixmodelle zur Regulation der Zellfunktion. University Duisburg-Essen, Germany. (2006)
• Talk: Control of integrin clustering by nanopatterned interfaces and micromechanical devices. Mathematical Biology, Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach, Germany. (2006)
• Talk: Theoretical and experimental studies of force-induced growth of focal adhesions. DPG-Tagung, Dresden, Germany. (2006)
• Talk: Theoretical and experimental studies of force-induced growth of focal adhesions. Cells@Interfaces, Firenze, Italy. (2005)
• Talk: Force induced adsorption and anisotropic growth of focal adhesions. American Chemical Society Meeting, Washington D.C., USA. (2005)
• Talk: Modeling force induced growth of focal adhesions. MPI for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. (2005)

Theses

• Theoretical and experimental studies of force induced growth of focal adhesions, Diploma thesis, University of Heidelberg.

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