Aurélie Carlier is associate professor at the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University. She received her PhD degree (2014) in Biomedical Engineering at the KU Leuven, Belgium. Her research interests encompass the computational modelling of biological processes, with a particular focus on bone tissue engineering and cell-biomaterial interactions, using a range of data-driven to mechanistic modelling approaches. Her research achievements have been awarded with a number of distinctions, including three doctoral thesis awards (ESMTB, 2015; ESB, 2015; KUL, 2016). She was also New Scientist Wetenschapstalent 2021 finalist and received a prestigious VENI career development grant (0.25 M€) from the Dutch Science Foundation. She is board member of the Dutch Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering as well as of the European Society of Biomechanics where she serves as chair of the student and education committee. Besides her research, Aurélie is co-founder and chair of FEM (Female Empowerment Maastricht University), a network to discuss and tackle gender issues.

Hamidreza holds a bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical engineering. In his Ph.D. at the University of Groningen, he developed computational molecular dynamics models to study underlying molecular mechanisms in ALS disease. Following his interest in developing mechanistic models of biological processes, but this time at a different scale, he joined MERLN as a post-doc in June 2022. At cBITE, he works on modeling the cell-ECM interface using different computational techniques. To improve the design of synthetic biomaterials, it is crucial to understand the physiological cell-ECM interactions and how these influence cell behavior. This research project aims to use in-silico models to improve our understanding of cell-biomaterial interactions. 

 Leyla is a Research Fellow specializing in computational biophysics, with a focus on developing innovative models to advance our understanding of kidney function. In more detail, she will perform research in computational modeling methods applied to regenerative medicine and more specifically, to kidney toxin transport in microfluidic set-ups, organoid culture systems, and/or bioartificial kidney devices., at the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University. She received her Ph.D. degree (2016) in computational biophysics at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, where was analyzing the effect of anesthetic drugs on brain activity. In her recent position as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Auckland (2019-2023), Leyla spearheaded the development of a kidney model, that aims to integrate detailed insights from existing research while ensuring modularity and reproducibility. Leyla's research endeavors delve into the intricate mechanisms underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, leveraging integrative mathematical models to provide a comprehensive tool for investigation.

Dr. Önder has been serving as a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Yıldız Technical University,TÜRKİYE. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Istanbul Technical University, TÜRKİYE. His research primarily focuses on the development of functional coatings to enhance the osteogenic and antimicrobial properties of biomaterials, as well as on biosensors and controlled drug delivery systems. During his doctoral studies, Dr. Önder worked on developing Mg-doped TiN thin film coatings for Ti-based materials, investigating the effects of local magnesium release on bone healing and osteointegration through both in vitro and in vivo studies. Dr. Önder is set to begin working in the Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Aurélie Carlier. He will further explore the impact of magnesium on bone healing mechanisms, particularly its role in immunomodulation, using an in silico approach

Matilde is from Italy and she studied Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Her Master’s degree focused on Biomechanics and Biomaterials. The course of study was centered in deeply understanding of mechanics

of both hard and soft biological tissues, including fluid dynamics. The second year was mainly dedicated to computational modelling of biological processes. Matilde graduated with a thesis entitled "A patient-specific agent-based modeling framework of restenosis after balloon angioplasty in a superficial femoral artery - effects of mechanical damage and hemodynamics on cellular dynamics". In August 2023, she joined MERLN for her PhD work, within the framework of the Material Driven Regeneration (MDR) consortium. The aim of her project is to develop in silico multiscale models to simulate cell-ECM interactions and fibrotic tissue remodeling.

Iga, originally from Poland, completed her Bachelor's degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Fascinated by intricate biological systems, she decided to continue her educational journey with a Master's in Systems Biology. Iga is now starting her Ph.D., focusing on Computational Modeling of cAMP Signaling in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, her research interest lies in uncovering the complexities of the brain on cell level and its connection to this challenging condition. Her PhD is a disciplinary project between MHeNs/ BIOMED (experimental work) and MERLN (computational work).

Wiktoria is a Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) student specializing in biomedicine. Her academic background includes laboratory experience in molecular biology and cell culture techniques. She is also an active member of the Student Oncology Association, where she has acquired extensive knowledge of oncology through expert lectures, workshops, and patient experience meetings. Her primary research interests lie in gynecology and obstetrics, regenerative medicine, and genetics. She is passionate about how these fields intertwine to advance human health and foster innovative treatments.

Currently, she is involved in two major projects. In collaboration with MSP and MERLN, she is designing molds for organoid embedding to enhance 3D cell culture techniques. Concurrently, at MERLN, she is contributing to the development of a computational model to investigate toxin dynamics in the bioartificial kidney.

Jan is a 23-year-old MSP student originally from Croatia. After completing a high school focused on natural sciences, he decided to continue his education abroad. Driven by a passion for neuroscience and a desire for independence, he moved to Maastricht and began his bachelor’s degree in 2021.

During his studies, he concentrated on biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, and biology, in addition to neuroscience. He also participated in an fMRI study, gaining firsthand insight into research practices and strengthening his interest in cognitive neuroscience and neuropharmacology.

In his current project at MSP, he successfully recorded neural responses to looming stimuli from the DCMD neuron in Locusta migratoria, replicating, confirming, and expanding on previous findings—all with affordable equipment. For his internship at the MERLN Institute, he is investigating the role of ERK signaling in ion channel regulation within the context of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lisa is a bachelor’s student at the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP), where her studies center on chemistry and neuroscience. She has also pursued several programming courses as part of her academic curriculum.

During her current project at MSP, she is focused on correcting metabolic tasks for a Genome-Scale Metabolic Model. This involves researching, testing, running, and mapping various metabolic pathways that occur in the human body.