Pietro Cicuta

Professor Pietro Cicuta is a leading academic in Biological Physics at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Department of Physics. He serves as head of the Biological and Soft Systems sector at the Cavendish Laboratory, where his research bridges physics and biology to address complex clinical and biological questions.

His work spans Statistical Physics and Soft Condensed Matter, with a focus on biophysical systems including malaria parasite invasion, cilia dynamics, and synthetic membrane engineering. He employs advanced experimental tools like optical tweezers, microrheology, and confocal microscopy.

• Malaria pathogenesis under physiological flow conditions
• Mechanics of ciliary motion in airway epithelia
• Design of DNA-based synthetic membranes
• Antibiotic effects on bacterial growth heterogeneity

Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding clathrin-mediated endocytosis and polymicrobial community organization in alveoli-like environments. Scientific recognition includes the Esther Hoffman Beller Lectureship (2022).

His group also drives innovation in open-source laboratory hardware, exemplified by projects like the OpenFlexure Microscope and LabThings Retro for smart equipment integration. Collaborative efforts explore applications in respiratory diseases, microbial systems, and synthetic biology.