Kristian Thijssen

Kristian Thijssen serves as an Assistant Professor in the Biocomplexity and Biophysics section at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), University of Copenhagen, where he conducts research at the Niels Bohr International Academy (NBIA). His work bridges computational physics and biological systems, focusing on emergent phenomena in active matter.

His educational background includes:

• MSc in Physics from Eindhoven University of Technology
• PhD in Physics from the University of Oxford under Julia Yeomans

Thijssen's research explores dynamics of collective phenomena in soft biological systems. His computational work examines how bacterial colonies and cellular tissues interact with reconfigurable environments, revealing fundamental principles of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Key methodologies involve multi-scale modeling of active nematics, gel mechanics, and topological defect dynamics, with applications spanning tissue engineering to cancer metastasis.

His publication trends (2022-2025) reveal a sharp focus on active matter physics, particularly in three interconnected domains: (1) mechanical interactions in biological gels (Physical Review Letters, 2023-2024), (2) topological phenomena in cellular systems (Nature Physics, 2024), and (3) hydrodynamic modeling of active fluids (Physical Review Letters, 2024-2025). This trajectory demonstrates increasing experimental-theoretical integration, with recent work bridging soft matter physics and biomedical applications.

Key recognition includes:

• Marie-Curie fellowship supporting his transition to NBI

Thijssen leads computational research within the NBIA's Biophysics group, securing competitive funding including the Marie-Curie grant. His collaborations span Cambridge, Oxford, and international consortia focused on active matter. Current projects investigate tumor cell migration mechanics and bacterial colony morphogenesis, with emphasis on translating theoretical models to biological contexts.

He operates within the Niels Bohr International Academy's collaborative framework, contributing to the NBI's Biocomplexity and Biophysics research cluster. His lab utilizes high-performance computing resources for multi-scale simulations of active systems, with strong ties to experimental groups studying cellular dynamics and soft materials.