*4 Year MRC PhD Programme* Modelling mechanics of epithelial cell sheets

Collective migration of cells underpins normal development and tissue maintenance, but also tumour cell spread. However, it is still poorly understood. Understanding the mechanisms that govern cell migration is challenging as it involves interlinked processes that occur at scales of different orders of magnitude from biochemical and mechanical molecular and cellular signaling events, to the emerging collective motion patterns of large groups of cells at scales of an entire tissue. It has become increasingly clear that molecular biology alone cannot fully describe collective cell migration and that interdisciplinary approaches are required to fully understand this fascinating problem. Biophysics together with computational modelling, is playing an increasingly important role to develop tools that can describe collective cell migration and help to identify the key features that govern and regulate it.

The primary goal of this project is to establish how different elastic properties (such as varying cell stiffness) affect cell migration with the ultimate aim to build a mechanical model for cancer metastasis. This will be achieved by using state of the art computational models developed in the group of Dr Sknepnek to study cell migration in mechanically heterogeneous epithelial sheets. The PhD candidate will also collaborate closely with a leading cell biology group (Prof Näthke) to compare model predictions with experiments on MDCK cells. Depending on her/his interests and background, the candidate will have opportunities to use advanced imaging and image analysis.

This is fully interdisciplinary project involves a close collaboration between computational physics and cell biology. It will allow the candidate to gain expertise in combining cutting edge biophysics and life sciences research.

Some knowledge of programming (Python or Matlab) and familiarity with university level physics is required. Knowledge of advanced topics, such as statistical mechanics and ability to program in C/C++ would be an asset, but is not strictly required.