Maartje Bastings

Maartje Bastings is an Associate Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), leading the Programmable Biomaterials Laboratory (PBL) within the School of Engineering (STI). She holds additional affiliations with the Institute of Materials (IMX), IBI-STI (Bioengineering), and supervises doctoral programs in Biotechnology and Biological Engineering (EDBB-GE) and Materials Science and Engineering (EDMX-GE).

Her research focuses on DNA-based supramolecular materials engineered to achieve dynamic reciprocity—a two-way interaction between synthetic materials and biological systems. By leveraging DNA as a programmable scaffold, she investigates structural mechanics, valency control, and geometric constraints governing self-assembly and cell communication at bio-interfaces. Key applications include immune system modulation, diagnostics, and vaccine development.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a focus on multivalent interactions for T-cell activation, spatial patterning in immune signaling, and engineered coatings for DNA origami stability. Subfields span T cell receptor engineering, nanoscale protein dynamics, stimuli-responsive biomaterials, and bio-inspired therapeutic design.

PhD Students:

• Chen Yuduo
• Hendrickx Pauline Bart M.
• Kononenko Artem
• Li Shujie
• Lou Yameng
• Meyer Pitt
• Narita Minako
• Rousseau Benjamin
• Bila Hale
• Caroprese Vincenzo
• Comberlato Alice
• Kurisinkal Eva Eugene
• Paloja Kaltrina
• Rodríguez Franco Hugo José
• Tekin Cem
• Wong Siu Ho

Contact: maartje.bastings@epfl.ch