Ayelet Lesman

Prof. Ayelet Lesman is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, and principal investigator of the Biomechanics of Living Cells Lab. Her research explores the interface between mechanics and biology, focusing on how mechanical forces regulate cell migration, communication, and tissue organization through nonlinear fibrous environments.

• Education: BSc in Materials Engineering and Chemistry (Technion), MSc and PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Technion), Postdoc at Caltech (Chemical Engineering) and Weizmann Institute (Biology)

Key research themes include:

• Mechanical signals in cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions
• Long-range force transmission through fibrous extracellular matrix
• Strain gradient programming in 3D hydrogels for tissue engineering
• Plasticity and anisotropy in biological gels

Her lab develops biomimetic tools to manipulate cell behavior through mechanical cues, with applications in wound healing, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Collaborations span Materials Science, Plant Sciences, and Medical Biophysics. Notable techniques include optical tweezers, Digital Volume Correlation, and 3D finite element modeling of fibrous networks.