Engineering the Geometry of the Extracellular Matrix to Control Cell Behaviour

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a highly complex, spatially organised scaffold whose architecture is a defining signature of both healthy tissue function and pathological states such as fibrosis and cancer invasion. Yet despite its central role, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of how cells sense changes in ECM organisation or how geometric cues shape cellular decision-making. A major barrier is the inherent complexity of native ECM, which makes it difficult to isolate the contribution of individual spatial features. This PhD project will engineer simplified, well-defined ECM microenvironments in which key organisational parameters (e.g. alignment, spacing, curvature) can be precisely controlled and systematically varied. By gradually rebuilding complexity, the project will map how ECM geometry programmes cellular forces, behaviours, and choices. This engineering biology approach will uncover new physical principles linking ECM architecture to the fundamental rules governing cell behaviour in both health and disease.