Living, Fluid, & Soft Matter
We are a group of physicists, biologists, engineers, and chemists working with big questions at the interface between physics and biology. We develop our own experimental and analytical tools to probe the dynamics and flow in a wide range of soft, living, and fluid materials.
Current Focus
- Swimming dynamics of micro- to mesoscale organisms
- Biomechanics of living materials, such as tiny plant roots and immune cells
- Wetting, droplets, and capillary phenomena
- Further development of the micropipette force sensor technique
Group members
Seela Helmi-Sofia Saartoala
Research Assistant
Martta Kristiina Lamminmäki
Teaching Assistant
Ensio Juha Gabriel Rislakki
Research Assistant
Anna Adelina Linnea Huttunen
Research Assistant
Dipti Boopalan
Research Assistant
MSc students
- Jules Pater (research internship from ESPCI, France), Summer 2024
- Anna Huttunen (MSc special assignment), Summer 2023
BSc students
- Lotta Ansas (BSc thesis), 2023–2024
- Aaro Saastamoinen (BSc thesis), Summer 2023
- Clara Prêcheur Llarena, Summer 2023
Click these links for my contact details and full researcher profile. My public CV is attached below.
Short bio
- Tenure-track Assistant Professor (2022–), Dept. of Applied Physics, Aalto University
- Postdoc(2015–2017) and Academy of Finland postdoc (2017–2022), Aalto University
- PhD in Physics, McMaster University, Canada (2015)
- MSc in Nanoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark (2011)
- BSc in Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland (2009)
Grants and awards(selection)
- ERC StG (2023)
- Research Council of Finland Research Fellowship (2023)
- Grant from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (2023)
- The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Väisälä Starting Grant (2023)
- Hannu Koskinen’s best presentation award at the Finnish Physics Days (2019)
- Grants from the Ruth and Nils-Erik Stenbäck Foundation (2017 and 2024)
- Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher (2017)
- The McMaster University School of Graduate Studies International Excellence Award (2012 and 2014)
Identifiers: ORCID, WoS, Google scholar
Funding
Prof. Backholm is currently funded by an ERC StG (2023), a Research Council of Finland Research Fellowship (2023), the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Väisälä Starting Grant (2023), as well as grants from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (2023) and the Ruth and Nils-Erik Stenbäck Foundation (2024).
Research Highlights
- Toward vanishing droplet friction on repellent surfaces
M. Backholm*, T. Kärki, H. Nurmi, M. Vuckovac, V. Turkki, S. Lepikko, V. Jokinen, D. Quéré, J. V. I. Timonen, and R. H. A. Ras*
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (PNAS) 121, e2315214121 (2024). - Droplet slipperiness despite surface heterogeneity at molecular scale
S. Lepikko, Y. Morais Jaques, M. Junaid, M. Backholm, J. Lahtinen, J. Julin, V. Jokinen, T. Sajavaara, M. Sammalkorpi, A. S. Foster, and R. H. A. Ras
Nature Chemistry 16, 506-513 (2024). - Long-term stability of aerophilic metallic surfaces underwater
A. B. Tesler, S. Kolle, L. H. Prado, I. Thievessen, D. Böhringer, M. Backholm, B. Karunakaran, H. A. Nurmi, M. Latikka, L. Fischer, S. Stafslien, Z. M. Cenev, J. V. I. Timonen, M. Bruns, A. Mazare, U. Lohbauer, S. Virtanen, B. Fabry, P. Schmuki, R. H. A. Ras, J. Aizenberg, and W. H. Goldmann
Nature Materials 22, 1548–1555 (2023). - Water droplet friction and rolling dynamics on superhydrophobic surfaces
M. Backholm*, D. Molpeceres, M. Vuckovac, H. Nurmi, M. Hokkanen, V. Jokinen, J.V.I. Timonen, and R.H.A. Ras*
Communications Materials 1, 64(2020). - Viscosity-enhanced droplet motion in sealed superhydrophobic capillaries
M. Vuckovac, M. Backholm, J.V.I. Timonen, and R.H.A. Ras
Science Advances 6, eaba5197 (2020).
[Highlighted by 12 news outlets, such as Physics Today and Physics World.] - Micropipette force sensors for in vivo force measurements on single cells and multicellular microorganisms
M. Backholm*, and O. Bäumchen*
Nature Protocols 14, 594–615 (2019).
[Highlighted by 10 news outlets, including Science Daily, Phys.org, EurekAlert, ScienMag, TodayChan, and Göttinger Tageblatt] - Tangling of tethered swimmers: Interactions between two nematodes
M. Backholm, R. D. Schulman, W. S. Ryu, and K. Dalnoki-Veress
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 138101 (2014).
[Editor's Suggestion, Highlighted by PRL Editorial] - Viscoelastic properties of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a self-similar, shear-thinning worm
M. Backholm, W. S. Ryu, and K. Dalnoki-Veress
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (PNAS) 110, 4528-4533 (2013).
News
Physicists explain—and eliminate—unknown force dragging against water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces
Aalto University researchers adapt a novel force measurement technique to uncover the previously unidentified physics at play at the thin air-film gap between water droplets and superhydrophobic surfaces.
Tiny organisms, big discoveries: How swarming shrimp could influence a new wave of ‘mesorobotics’
Aalto researcher aims to understand the complex movement of brine shrimp—a gateway to physics on an unfamiliar scale
Funding granted for research into physics of microscopic plant roots
The aim is to create a new micromechanical tool to better understand how root mechanics arise from cells and how living materials like plant roots adapt to external stresses
In September, 15 new Academy Researcher Fellows will start at Aalto
The Academy of Finland has granted Aalto University funding for 15 Academy Research Fellowships
Measuring forces of living cells and microorganisms
Force sensors to study living cells and microorganisms with extraordinary precision
Professor Matilda Backholm: Between the micro and the macro
Driven by curiosity, new Department of Applied Physics professor Matilda Backholm studies the physics of the mesoscale.
All publications
Toward vanishing droplet friction on repellent surfaces
Matilda Backholm, Tytti Kärki, Heikki Nurmi, Maja Vuckovac, Valtteri Turkki, Sakari Lepikko, Ville Jokinen, David Quéré, Jaakko Timonen, Robin Ras
2024
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Droplet Friction on Superhydrophobic Surfaces Scales With Liquid-Solid Contact Fraction
Sakari Lepikko, Valtteri Turkki, Tomi Koskinen, Ramesh Raju, Ville Jokinen, Mariia S. Kiseleva, Samuel Rantataro, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Matilda Backholm, Ilkka Tittonen, Robin H.A. Ras
2024
Small
Droplet slipperiness despite surface heterogeneity at molecular scale
Sakari Lepikko, Ygor Morais Jaques, Muhammad Junaid, Matilda Backholm, Jouko Lahtinen, Jaakko Julin, Ville Jokinen, Timo Sajavaara, Maria Sammalkorpi, Adam Foster, Robin Ras
2024
Nature Chemistry
Light-triggered Time-Programmed Self-adhesion in Low-Hysteresis Hydrogels
Henri Savolainen, Matilda Backholm, Olli Ikkala, Hang Zhang
2024
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Probing surface wetting across multiple force, length and time scales
Dan Daniel, Maja Vuckovac, Matilda Backholm, Mika Latikka, Rahul Karyappa, Xue Qi Koh, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Nikodem Tomczak, Robin H.A. Ras
2023
Communications Physics
Long-term stability of aerophilic metallic surfaces underwater
Alexander B. Tesler, Stefan Kolle, Lucia H. Prado, Ingo Thievessen, David Böhringer, Matilda Backholm, Bhuvaneshwari Karunakaran, Heikki A. Nurmi, Mika Latikka, Lena Fischer, Shane Stafslien, Zoran M. Cenev, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Mark Bruns, Anca Mazare, Ulrich Lohbauer, Sannakaisa Virtanen, Ben Fabry, Patrik Schmuki, Robin H.A. Ras, Joanna Aizenberg, Wolfgang H. Goldmann
2023
Nature Materials
Force-Based Wetting Characterization of Stochastic Superhydrophobic Coatings at Nanonewton Sensitivity
Matti J. Hokkanen, Matilda Backholm, Maja Vuckovac, Quan Zhou, Robin H.A. Ras
2021
Advanced Materials
Water droplet friction and rolling dynamics on superhydrophobic surfaces
Matilda Backholm, Daniel Molpeceres, Maja Vuckovac, Heikki Nurmi, Matti Hokkanen, Ville Jokinen, Jaakko Timonen, Robin Ras
2020
Communications Materials
Ferrofluid Microdroplet Splitting for Population-Based Microfluidics and Interfacial Tensiometry
Mika Latikka, Matilda Backholm, Avijit Baidya, Alberto Ballesio, Amandine Serve, Grégory Beaune, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Thalappil Pradeep, Robin H.A. Ras
2020
Advanced Science
Viscosity-enhanced droplet motion in sealed superhydrophobic capillaries
Maja Vuckovac, Matilda Backholm, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Robin H.A. Ras
2020
Science Advances
Micropipette force sensors for in vivo force measurements on single cells and multicellular microorganisms
Matilda Backholm, Oliver Bäumchen
2019
Nature Protocols
Designed inorganic porous nanovector with controlled release and MRI features for safe administration of doxorubicin
Simo Näkki, Julie T.W. Wang, Jianwei Wu, Li Fan, Jimi Rantanen, Tuomo Nissinen, Mikko I. Kettunen, Matilda Backholm, Robin H.A. Ras, Khuloud T. Al-Jamal, Vesa Pekka Lehto, Wujun Xu
2019
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
Wetting of ferrofluids
Mika Latikka, Matilda Backholm, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Robin H.A. Ras
2018
Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science
Absence of single critical dose for the amorphization of quartz under ion irradiation
S. Zhang, O. H. Pakarinen, M. Backholm, F. Djurabekova, K. Nordlund, J. Keinonen, T. S. Wang
2018
Journal of Physics Condensed Matter
Oscillating Ferrofluid Droplet Microrheology of Liquid-Immersed Sessile Droplets
Matilda Backholm, Maja Vuckovac, Jan Schreier, Mika Latikka, Michael Hummel, Markus B. Linder, Robin H.A. Ras
2017
Langmuir
Slippery and never wet
Matilda Backholm, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Robin H.A. Ras
2017
Europhysics News
Partitioning of caffeine in lipid bilayers reduces membrane fluidity and increases membrane thickness
Adree Khondker, Alexander Dhaliwal, Richard J. Alsop, Jennifer Tang, Matilda Backholm, An Chang Shi, Maikel C. Rheinstädter
2017
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Cross-Linked Hydrogels Formed through Diels-Alder Coupling of Furan- and Maleimide-Modified Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid)
S. Alison Stewart, Matilda Backholm, Nicholas A. D. Burke, Harald D. H. Stoever
2016
Langmuir
Amyloid-beta(25-35) peptides aggregate into cross-beta sheets in unsaturated anionic lipid membranes at high peptide concentrations
J. Tang, R. J. Alsop, M. Backholm, H. Dies, A. C. Shi, M. C. Rheinstadter
2016
Soft Matter
The effects of viscosity on the undulatory swimming dynamics of C. elegans
M. Backholm, A. K. S. Kasper, R. D. Schulman, W. S. Ryu, K. Dalnoki-Veress
2015
PHYSICS OF FLUIDS
The nematode C. elegans as a complex viscoelastic fluid
Matilda Backholm, William S. Ryu, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2015
European Physical Journal E
Capillary levelling of a cylindrical hole in a viscous film
Matilda Backholm, Michael Benzaquen, Thomas Salez, Elie Raphael, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2014
Soft Matter
Tangling of Tethered Swimmers: Interactions between Two Nematodes
Matilda Backholm, Rafael D. Schulman, William S. Ryu, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2014
Physical Review Letters
Direct Measurements of Drag Forces in C. elegans Crawling Locomotion
Yegor Rabets, Matilda Backholm, Kari Dalnoki-Veress, William S. Ryu
2014
Biophysical Journal
Dynamic force patterns of an undulatory microswimmer
Rafael D. Schulman, Matilda Backholm, William S. Ryu, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2014
Physical Review E
Undulatory microswimming near solid boundaries
R. D. Schulman, M. Backholm, W. S. Ryu, K. Dalnoki-Veress
2014
PHYSICS OF FLUIDS
Roughness scaling in titanium thin films: A three-dimensional molecular dynamics study of rotational and static glancing angle deposition
Matilda Backholm, Morten Foss, Kai Nordlund
2013
Applied Surface Science
Viscoelastic properties of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a self-similar, shear-thinning worm
Matilda Backholm, William S. Ryu, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2013
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Relaxation and intermediate asymptotics of a rectangular trench in a viscous film
Oliver Baeumchen, Michael Benzaquen, Thomas Salez, Joshua D. McGraw, Matilda Backholm, Paul Fowler, Elie Raphael, Kari Dalnoki-Veress
2013
Physical Review E
Roughness of glancing angle deposited titanium thin films: an experimental and computational study
Matilda Backholm, Morten Foss, Kai Nordlund
2012
Nanotechnology
Amorphization of alpha-quartz and comparative study of defects in amorphized quartz and Si nanocrystals embedded in amorphous silica
Flyura Djurabekova, Matilda Backholm, Marie Backman, Olli H. Pakarinen, Juhani Keinonen, Kai Nordlund, Tzu-Ray Shan, Bryce D. Devine, Susan B. Sinnott
2010
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B: BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS
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