Laura Rijns

Laura Rijns is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University co-advised by Professors Zhenan Bao and Karl Deisseroth, developing innovative (opto)genetic, electrical, and chemical tools for neural modulation in vitro and in vivo. Her work bridges biomaterials engineering with neuroscience to create next-generation platforms for cellular and tissue engineering.

Education

• PhD in Biomedical Engineering, cum laude (2023), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands, under Professors Patricia Dankers and E.W. (Bert) Meijer, focusing on supramolecular hydrogels as extracellular matrix mimics for organoid development.
• MSc in Biomedical Engineering (2019), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), researching supramolecular assemblies in Professor Meijer's laboratory.
• BSc in Biomedical Engineering (2017), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

Her research centers on designing dynamic supramolecular hydrogels that replicate extracellular matrix complexity to control cellular behavior. Key interests include tunable mechanical properties for mechanobiology studies, ligand presentation strategies for directing cell polarity, and engineering biomaterials for renal organoid development and neural interfaces. She integrates principles from polymer chemistry, cell biology, and bioengineering to create responsive platforms that bridge synthetic materials with biological systems, with particular emphasis on translating fundamental material properties into functional tissue engineering outcomes.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on supramolecular hydrogels for tissue engineering. Dominant themes include stress-stiffening mechanics, cell-adhesive motif engineering, and dynamic control of hydrogel-cell interactions. Her work demonstrates consistent innovation in renal tissue models (glomerulogenesis, tubulogenesis) and neural applications, with increasing sophistication in material design—from basic supramolecular polymers to multi-dynamic systems that mimic extracellular complexity. This progression highlights her unique interdisciplinary approach combining biomaterials science with regenerative medicine.

No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Laura has no listed advisees or grant funding in the available information. She operates within Stanford's collaborative ecosystem, leveraging resources from both Professor Bao's chemical engineering lab (focusing on biomaterials and electronics) and Professor Deisseroth's neuroengineering group (pioneering optogenetics), creating a powerful synergy for developing neural modulation tools.