معرفی
Kerstin Blank is a University Professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), Austria, affiliated with the Department of Biomolecular & Selforganizing Matter within the Institute of Experimental Physics. Her research centers on the mechanical properties of biomolecules and biomaterials, with emphasis on bacterial biofilms, protein mechanics, and force-responsive molecular systems.
Her primary research spans biophysics and mechanochemistry, investigating how mechanical forces govern biomolecular behavior in systems like coiled coils, DNA, and bacterial biofilms. She develops molecular force sensors to probe cell-material interactions and studies fracture mechanics in hydrogels, bridging fundamental molecular mechanisms with applications in biomaterials design and drug delivery systems.
Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal consistent focus on experimental techniques including shear-rheology, microindentation, and single-molecule force spectroscopy. Key themes encompass mechanical characterization of Escherichia coli biofilms, mechanochemical responses in macromolecular systems, and DNA catch bond phenomena, demonstrating her leadership in quantifying biomolecular mechanics for biomedical and materials applications.
Professor Blank leads significant research projects including an active EU-funded initiative (2024-2026) on mechano-targeted drug delivery using mechanosensitive proteins and a completed project (2022-2023) developing coiled coil-based molecular force sensors. She has supervised three graduate students and maintains extensive scientific engagement through 65 documented activities including invited talks, editorial roles, and scientific society participation.
Her experimental work is conducted within JKU's Institute of Experimental Physics, where her group specializes in biomolecular and self-organizing matter research, utilizing advanced mechanical testing and molecular engineering approaches to unravel force-dependent biological phenomena.
