Jun. - Prof. Dr. Diana Khoromskaia
Modelling pattern formation in multi-layered tissues
Mathematical Modelling
Biophysics
Cell Mechanics
Active matter
My research group seeks to understand the physical principles that underlie living matter. We develop mathematical models using tools from soft and active matter physics and related computational techniques, to gain a quantitative understanding of the multi-scale dynamics and self-organisation observed in cells and tissues and to advance the theoretical descriptions of out-of-equilibrium materials. Current research directions include the morphodynamics of cells and epithelia, morphogen transport in porous tissues, and active matter at curved interfaces.
This project aims to investigate the interplay of chemical signal transport, mechanical forces, and anisotropic structures (nematic or polar order) in a multi-layered tissue using continuum models and cell-based modelling approaches. It is an excellent opportunity to work at the intersection of physics and biology and offers the potential to collaborate with experimental groups.
Vita
- 2007 – 2012 BSc and MSc in Physics, University of Heidelberg
- 2012 – 2013 MSc in Complexity Science, University of Warwick, UK
- 2013 – 2017 PhD in Physics and Complexity Science, University of Warwick, UK
- 2017 – 2021 Postdoctoral Traning Fellow, Francis Crick Institute, London
- 2022 – 2025 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University College London and
Francis Crick Institute - Since 2025 Junior Professor and Research Group Leader at University of Münster
Selected references
R. Bailleul, N. Cuny, D. Khoromskaia, S. Basu, G. Bergamini, P. Cucurachi, F. Gabler, S. Rupp, A. Guse, C. Curantz, N. Swinhoe, P. Cleves, J. Craggs, S. Fujita, Y. Nakajima, P.J. Steenbergen, A. Diz-Muñoz, G. Salbreux, A. Ikmi. (2026). Deciphering mechanical determinants of morphological evolution. Cell.
C. Autorino, D. Khoromskaia, L. Harari, E. Floris, H. Booth, C. Pallares-Cartes, V. Petrasiunaite, M.Dorrity, B. Corominas-Murtra, Z.Hadjivasiliou, N. I. Petridou. A closed feedback between tissue phase transitions and morphogen gradients drives patterning dynamics, bioRxiv (2025).
D. Khoromskaia and G. Salbreux. (2023). Active morphogenesis of patterned epithelial shells. eLife 11:e75878
C. Bächer, D. Khoromskaia, G. Salbreux, S. Gekle. (2021). A three-dimensional numerical model of an active cell cortex in the viscous limit. Front. Phys. 9:753230.
D. Khoromskaia and G. P. Alexander. (2017). Vortex formation and dynamics of defects in active nematic shells. New J. Phys. 19 103043