Jelle Sleeboom

Jelle Sleeboom is a postdoctoral researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering's Microsystems group under Prof. Dr. Ir. Jaap den Toonder. His research focuses on Cancer-on-a-chip technology to study cancer metastasis mechanisms, particularly the roles of oxygen in directional cell migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics. Sleeboom holds a BSc (2012) and MSc (2016) in Mechanical Engineering from TU/e, with his MSc thesis conducted at Harvard's Wyss Institute. He completed a joint PhD in 2020 on 'Microfluidic models of metastasis: In vitro approaches to study the tumor microenvironment.' His work integrates microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, and mechanobiology to advance disease modeling.

• Education:
  • BSc Mechanical Engineering, TU/e (2012)
  • MSc Mechanical Engineering (with honors), TU/e (2016)
  • PhD in Soft Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology and Microsystems (2020)
• Research Interests: Cancer metastasis, microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, ECM mechanics, 3D oxygen gradient modeling, and mechanobiology.
• Key Contributions: Developed in vitro models for ECM heterogeneity and breast cancer metastasis, and pioneered 3D oxygen gradient chips for cancer cell migration studies.
• Awards: MSc graduation with honors in 2016.

His research bridges engineering and biology, emphasizing translational applications in cancer research. Sleeboom collaborates with interdisciplinary groups, including the STEM (Soft Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology) and Microsystems teams at TU/e.