Department Imaging Physics
Principal investigator Hylkje Geertsema
E-mail address h.j.geertsema@tudelft.nl
Website https://geertsemalab.github.io/
How do cytoskeletal protein networks ‘talk’ with each other?
Suitable as a BEP? Yes
Suitable as a MEP? Yes
Suitable as an Academic Research Project? Yes
Techniques:
- Super-resolution microscopy
- Human cells culture
- 3D fluorescence data analysis
In the lab, we obtain super-resolution (DNA-PAINT) microscopy of cytoskeletal proteins in human cells. Tough, to understand how those proteins work together or adapt to stimuli requires smart data analysis. We are seeking for students that are interested in contributing to the microscopy, biological interpretation and data analysis.
Further reading (click to link to article)
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c18502
(Example) projects submitted by lab in past years
3D super-resolution microscopy unravels disease in human cells caused by lamin network dysfunction
Supervisor: Hylkje Geertsema, h.j.geertsema@tudelft.nl
How do protein structures look like in healthy and diseased cells? We use smart 3D super-resolution microscopy to peek into human cells to answer this question. Specifically, we want to know how the lamin protein network at the nuclear perifery, which plays an essential role in DNA transcription, replication and maintenance, changes when cells get ill. By making beautiful 3D images of the lamin network, we aim to learn how aggregation and allocation of single lamin proteins cause the whole cell to dysfuntion. Are you going to help us to further investigate the processes that underlie lamin network dysfunction and result in severe diseases on a molecular level?
Techniques
- 3D fluorescence microscopy
- Super-resolution microscopy
- DNA-PAINT
- Data analysis with python
- Mammalian (human) cell culture