Our approach

In the conventional scientific classification, biology deals with the study of Life, whereas physics and chemistry deal with the constituents of matter and their dynamics. Materials science in turn combines engineering aspects to physics and chemistry and focuses on the structure-function relationship of materials. 

The research in the Living Materials group of Dr. Damien Faivre puts microorganisms on the menu of physical research and engineering, linking different scientific fields to unravel novel scientific insights. 

Interdisciplinary Studies: What We Research 

We perform interdisciplinary studies of functional micro- and nanosystems formed via biological and sustainable routes towards:

• The fundamental understanding of (bio)mineralization, and the sustainable, biomimetic formation of materials with controlled properties.
• The fundamental understanding of biological and synthetic microswimmers, their motility, and their interactions in swarms.
• Technological applications with a low footprint, in particular as theranostic tools. 

Our Unique Approach: How We Lead the Field 
The research is particularly acknowledged to be at the forefront in the community. 

We achieve this by combining: 

• In-house designed microscopic platforms and analytical tools.
• A strong background in materials chemistry.
• Extensive knowledge in biology and physics.
• A robust collaboration with simulation / theory partners.