معرفی
Dr. Samantha Stehbens is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Queensland. Her work focuses on understanding how cells navigate complex microenvironments, particularly in cancer metastasis. She holds an ARC Future Fellowship and has contributed to advances in microscopy-based research, including the role of microtubules in cell mechanics and migration.
Dr. Stehbens earned her BSc, BSc(Hons), and PhD from The University of Queensland. Her research integrates cutting-edge imaging techniques with 3D cell models to study cancer cell behavior in confined spaces, emphasizing mechanosensory mechanisms and cytoskeletal dynamics.
Her research interests include microtubule regulation, cell adhesion, and metastatic plasticity. Key projects explore how cancer cells adapt to mechanical challenges in their microenvironment, with implications for developing anti-metastasis therapies.
Recent work highlights contributions to understanding pyroptosis signaling, microtubule reinforcement under compression, and hyaluronic acid’s role in vascular malformations. She collaborates widely, including with Prof. Nikolas Haass on melanoma invasion and Prof. Anne Lagendijk on pediatric brain tumors.
- Awards: ARC Future Fellowship
- Grants: NHMRC IDEAS Grants (2025–2028), Endometriosis Australia Ltd (2024–2026), Melanoma Research Program (2022–2027)
Dr. Stehbens supervises PhD students in topics like melanoma brain metastasis and microtubule mechanics. Her lab develops innovative models to study tumor microenvironments and mechanotransduction, aiming to bridge discovery science and clinical applications.
