Josef Alfons Käs

Josef Alfons Käs is a Professor and Director of the Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics at the University of Leipzig since 2016, leading the Department of Soft Matter Physics/Cell Biophysics since 2002. Previously, he held faculty positions at the University of Texas at Austin (1996-2002) including Professor in Physics and Cellular/Molecular Biology departments.

Education:

• Bachelor in Physics, Columbia University, New York (1984-1987)
• Diploma in Physics, Technical University of Munich (1987-1990)
• Dr.rer.nat., Technical University of Munich (1990-1993)

His research pioneers cancer physics through a materials science lens, quantifying cell phenotype and function across molecular-to-tissue scales. Key emphases include mechanical properties of cancer cells, plasma membrane stiffness effects on migration, actin-mediated force generation, and solid tumor mechanics. This work positions his group at the forefront of understanding how physical forces drive cancer progression and metastasis.

Research Grants:

• What Holds Cancer Cells Back? (ERC European Research Council, 2017-2022)
• Mechanical Impact of Solid Tumours on Tissues (EU, 2016-2019)
• Direct influence of plasma membrane stiffness on cell migration (DFG, 2019-2021)
• Blebbing Driven or Actin Protrusive-Force Driven Cancer Cell Migration (DFG, 2015-2018)
• Mechanisms of actin-mediated force generation (DFG, 2015-2018)

Käs leads the Soft Matter Physics/Cell Biophysics department within the Peter Debye Institute and is a member of Leipzig's Cancer Center. His team operates from the Biotechnology-Biomedical Center (BBZ) with collaborations spanning the Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, focusing on translating mechanical cell properties into clinical cancer insights.