Keng-Hui Lin's Lab
We are an interdisciplinary research group with members of diverse scientific backgrounds, including physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering. We are curious about how physical factors affect cell behaviors, and how cells utilize physical force to perform biological functions. The study of how cells sense and respond to the physical microenvironment is mechanobiology. In the past, most of studies are carried out on two-dimensional (2D) substrates. My lab focuses on three-dimensional behaviors, which are good for testing current understanding based on 2D systems. Our biological research addresses how the 3D microenvironment affects cellular shapes and functions, with the ultimate goals of understanding cell morphodynamics and tissue morphogenesis and applying this knowledge to regenerative medicine and drug screening. In addition to investigating 3D mechanobiology, we also study mechanobiology in vivo, particularly, on zebrafish, which is a fascinating model system. Our approaches exploit knowledge and techniques from soft matter physics such as advanced optical microscopy, image analysis, and fluorescent probes for visualizing microscopic details.
News
Members
林耿慧


PI
khlin@phys.sinica.edu.tw
kenghui@gate.sinica.edu.tw
(02) 27896763
Ph. D., Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania.
Marco P. de Leon


PhD in Biotechnology
Molecule and Biological Agricautural Science
Taiwan International Graduate Program Academia Sinica-National Chung-Hsing University
Msc in Biochemistry University of the Philippines Manila
BSc in Chemistry Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sep. 2016 - current
劉又萱


Research Assistant
Sept. 2020 - Current
c54054029@gs.ncku.edu.tw
B.S. Life sciences and Biomedical Engineering double major, National Cheng Kung University
林治


NTU chemistry undergrad
Oct. 2021 - Current
Karen G. Rosal


postdoc, Aug. 2022- Current
Karen G. Rosal is a postdoctoral research fellow. She finished her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology under the TIGP-MCB program.
She earned her masters degree at Okayama University Graduate School of Life Sciences and bachelors degree in Biology at the University
of the Philippines
Los Baños.
羅尉彰


Wei-Chang completed his PhD at the University of Warwick, UK. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher on a number
of topics in biological physics, including modelling bacterial swarms and the dorsal closure of Drosophila. He currently
studies mechanobiology by using zebrafish as the model organism.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oct. 2022 - Current
謝映竹


Research Assistant, Oct. 2022 - Current sieyingjhu@gmail.com M.S. Chemistry, National Taiwan University B.S. Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University
鄭愷修


r09245015@ntu.edu.tw
Jan. 2023 - Current
NTU Physics Graduate Student
Yi-Fang Lo


NTU physics undergrad, June 2023-Current
蘇昱融


B.S. Physics, Goettingen University.
M.S. Physics, Goettingen University.
Hello I love cats, drawing and design. Nice to meet ya!
Research Assistant, July. 2023 - Current
吳家馨


Ph.D. Student, Sept. 2023 - Current
Selected Research Projects

Monodisperse liquid foam is generated by a microfluidic device self-assembled into crystalline order.

Comparison of cells in spherical pores (top).

Reconstructed image of a cyst with nuclei.

Measuring traction force.

Solid foam, also known as "cellular solid", which is an important class of engineering materials consists of an assembly of cells with solid edges or faces that are packed together to fill space.
Publications
8
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Mechanical waves identify the amputation posistion during wound healing in the amputated zebrafish tailfin
Marco P. De Leon, Fu-lai Wen, Giovanni J. Paylaga, Ying-ting Wang, Hsio-Yu Roan, Chung-han Wang, Chung-der Hsiao, Keng-hui Lin, and Chen-hui Chen
Nature Physics (2023). (pdf) -
Alteration of 3D Matrix Stiffness Regulates Viscoelasticity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
TW Kao, A Chiou, KH Lin, YS Liu, OKS Lee
International journal of molecular sciences 22 (5), 2441 (2021) (pdf) -
Spherical microwell arrays for studying single cells and microtissues in 3D confinement
KHL Cheng-Kuang Huang, Giovanni J Paylaga, Sasinan Bupphathong
Biofabrication 12 (2), 025016 (2020). (pdf) -
The mechanical properties of monodisperse foam scaffolds
WYJ Cheng-Nan Yang, Li-Syuan Liang, Keng-hui Lin
Composites Part B: Engineering 164, 517-523 (2019). (pdf) -
Imaging through the Whole Brain of Drosophila at λ/20 Super-resolution
HY Lin, LA Chu, H Yang, KJ Hsu, YY Lin, KH Lin, SW Chu, AS Chiang
iScience 14, 164-170 (2019). (pdf)
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Quantitative mechanical analysis of indentations on layered, soft elastic materials
RR Bryant L. Doss, Kiarash Rahmani Eliato, Keng-hui Lin
Soft Matter 15 (8), 1776-1784 (2019). (pdf) -
Lis1 dysfunction leads to traction force reduction and cytoskeletal disorganization during cell migration
GW Jheng, SS Hur, CM Chang, CC Wu, JS Cheng, HH Lee, BC Chung, YK Wang, KH Lin, JC Alamo, S Chien and JW Tsai.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 497, 869 (2018). (pdf) -
The Apical Constriction Force of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) Cells
CC Hsueh, IAP Lazarte, M Prouveur, WH Wu, YT How and KH Lin.
Biophysical Journal 114, 3 (2018). (pdf) -
Study on the regulation of focal adesions and cortical actin by matrix nanotopography in 3D environment
JJ Han, KH Lin and LY Chew.
J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 29, 455101 (2017). (pdf) -
Expandable Scaffold Improves Integration of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage An In Vivo Study in a Rabbit Model
CC Wang, KC Yang, KH Lin, YL Liu, YT Yang, TF Kuo and IH Chen.
TISSUE ENGINEERING: Part A 22, 11 (2016). (pdf)
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Hertzian load–displacement relation holds for spherical indentation on soft elastic solids undergoing large deformations.
CE Wu, KH Lin and JY Juang.
Tribology International 97, 71 (2016). (pdf) -
Matrix dimensionality and stiffness cooperatively regulate osteogenesis of mesenchymal stromal cells.
WT Hsieh, YS Liu, YH Lee, MG Rimando, KH Lin and OK Lee.
Acta Biomaterialia 32, 210 (2016). (pdf) -
Three-dimensional spherical spatial boundary conditions differentially regulate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells.
YP Lo, YS Liu, MG Rimando, JHC Ho, KH Lin and OK Lee.
Scientific Reports 6, 21253 (2016). (pdf) -
Migration and vascular lumen formation of endothelial cells in cancer cell spheroids of various sizes.
B Patra, YS Peng, CC Peng, WH Liao, YA Chen, KH Lin, YC Tung and CH Lee.
Biomicrofluidics 8, 052109 (2014). (pdf) -
A biomimetic honeycomb-like scaffold prepared by flow-focusing technology for cartilage regeneration.
CC Wang, KC Yang, KH Lin, CC Wu, YL Liu, FH Lin and IH Chen.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering. (in press) (2014). (pdf)
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Differentiation of lung stem/progenitor cells into alveolar pneumocytes and induction of angiogenesis within a 3D gelatin – Microbubble scaffold.
TY Ling, YL Liu, YK Huang, SY Gu, HK Chen, CC Ho, PN Tsao, YC Tung, HW Chen, CH Cheng, KH Lin and FH Lin.
Biomaterials, 35, 5660 (2014). (pdf) -
Three-dimensional fibroblast morphology on compliant substrates of controlled negative curvature.
YH Lee, JR Huang, YK Wang and KH Lin.
Integrative Biology. 5, 1447 (2013).(Featured on the back cover.) (pdf) -
Electrotaxis of lung cancer cells in ordered three-dimensional scaffolds.
YS Sun, SW Peng, KH Lin and JY Cheng.
Biomicrofluidics. 6 (1), 014102 (2012). (pdf) -
Cartilage regeneration in SCID mice using a highly organized three-dimensional alginate scaffold.
CC Wang, KC Yang, KH Lin, YL Liu, HC Liu and FH Lin.
Biomaterials. 33 (1), 120 (2012). (pdf) -
Morphology and organization of tissue cells in 3D microenvironment of monodisperse foam scaffolds.
J Lin, W Lin, W Hong, W Hung, SH Nowotarski, SM Gouveia, I Cristo and KH Lin.
Soft Matter. 7 (21), 10010 (2011). (pdf)
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Fabrication of monolayer of polymer/nanospheres hybrid at a water-air interface.
CC Ho, PY Chen, KH Lin, WT Juan and WL Lee
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 3 (2), 204 (2011). (pdf) -
A highly organized three-dimensional alginate scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering prepared by microfluidic technology.
CC Wang, KC Yang, KH Lin, HC Liu and FH Lin.
Biomaterials. 32 (29), 7118 (2011). (pdf) -
Reduced saturation magnetization in cobalt antidot thin films prepared by polyethylene oxide-assisted self-assembly of polystyrene nanospheres.
CC Ho, TW Hsieh, HH Kung, WT Juan, KH Lin and WL Lee.
Applied Physics Letters. 96 (12), 122504 (2010). (pdf) -
One-dimensional dynamics and transport of DNA molecules in a quasi-two-dimensional nanoslit.
PK Lin, KH Lin, CC Fu, KC Lee, PK Wei, WW Pai, PH Tsao, YL Chen and WS Fann.
Macromolecules. 42 (5), 1770 (2009). (pdf) -
Fabricating scaffolds by microfluidics.
K Chung, NC Mishra, C Wang, F Lin and KH Lin.
Biomicrofluidics. 3, 022403 (2009). (pdf)
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Assembly of microspheres with polymers by evaporating emulsion droplets.
KH Lin, L Lai, CC Chang and H Chen.
Physical Review E. 78 (4), 041408 (2008). (pdf) -
Label-free detection of small-molecule–protein interactions by using nanowire nanosensors.
WU Wang, C Chen, KH Lin, Y Fang and CM Lieber.
PNAS. 102 (9), 3208 (2005). (pdf) (pdf) -
High-performance nanowire electronics and photonics on glass and plastic substrates.
MC McAlpine, RS Friedman, S Jin, KH Lin, WU Wang and CM Lieber
Nano letters. 3 (11), 1531 (2003). (pdf) -
Field-induced structures in miscible ferrofluid suspensions with and without latex spheres.
MF Islam, KH Lin, D Lacoste, TC Lubensky and AG Yodh.
Physical Review E. 67 (2), 021402 (2003). (pdf) -
Electro-optic response and switchable Bragg diffraction for liquid crystals in colloid-templated materials.
P Mach, P Wiltzius, M Megens,DA Weitz, KH Lin, TC Lubensky and AG Yodh.
Physical Review E. 65 (3), 031720 (2002). (pdf)
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Template-directed convective assembly of three-dimensional face-centered-cubic colloidal crystals.
J Zhang, A Alsayed, KH Lin, S Sanyal, F Zhang, WJ Pao, VSK Balagurusamy, PA Heiney and AG Yodh.
Applied physics letters. 81 (17), 3176 (2002). (pdf) -
Switchable Bragg diffraction from liquid crystal in colloid-templated structures.
P Mach, P Wiltzius, M Megens, DA Weitz, KH Lin, TC Lubensky and AG Yodh.
Europhysics Letters. 58 (5), 679 (2002). (pdf) -
Entropic interactions in suspensions of semiflexible rods: Short-range effects of flexibility
AWC Lau, KH Lin and AG Yodh.
Physical Review E. 66 (2), 020401 (2002). (pdf) -
Colloidal interactions in suspensions of rods.
KH Lin, JC Crocker, AC Zeri, AG Yodh.
Physical review letters. 87 (8), 088301 (2001). (pdf) -
Entropically driven self–assembly and interaction in suspension.
AG Yodh, K Lin, JC Crocker, AD Dinsmore, R Verma and PD Kaplan.
Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A. 359, 921 (2001). (pdf)




































Openings: we are eager of new fresh chickens
The availability of positions in our group varies with time. Please contact Dr. Lin directly with the required materials (listed below) if you are interested in joining the group.
We welcome people who share our passion and fascination for soft matter physics and integrated physical biology. We recruit from a wide range of backgrounds in physics, chemistry, biology, material science, bioengineering, applied mathematics, and computer science, as well as mechanical, chemical, electrical, and related engineering fields. Research projects often require training in more than one field. Candidates must possess some of the following and be motivated to:
- Engate in independent and critical thinking
- Acquire good teaching and presentation skills
- Develop experience with quantitative analysis
- Enjoy collaborating with colleagues
- Embrace new challenges
- Be open-minded and not take criticism personally.
English proficiency is required for all positions. Although it is not necessary to submit standardized test scores, you must demonstrate the ability to present and discuss research in English with no difficulties.
Visiting Scientists
We welcome experienced researchers to exchange ideas and work with us. Some funding may be provided for visitors. For domestic scientists, you can apply for the short term visiting program sponsored by Academia Sinica.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Postdocs with solid academic performance and graduate research experiences are always encouraged to apply. At this moment, we are interested in candidates with backgrounds in optical imaging, mechanical engineering, soft matter physics, and strong coding and analytical skills.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter defining your interests, your research achievement, and your reasons to work in our group. Please also send a recent CV and a list of references or request that three recommendation letters be sent separately.
Postdoc candidates are encouraged to apply to the following fellowships
Postdoc fellowship program in Academia Sinica
NSF International Fellowship Program for US citizens or permanent residents
PhD Thesis Students
If you are interested in carrying out your thesis research in the Lin lab, please appl to the pertinent graduate programs such as Dept. of Physics and Institute of Biophysics at National Central University, Institute of Genome Biology and Systems at National Taiwan University, NANO and CBMB program of Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) at Academia Sinica. Candidates in other PhD programs who wish to work in my lab must contact Dr. Lin directly.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter that describes your research experiences, CV, undergrad/master transcripts, and your publication records (or thesis).
Master Thesis Students
The most straightforward way is to complete a master's thesis with the Lin lab is to be a studentat at the Institute of Physics/Biophysics at National Central University. In the past, I have supervised students from various institutes, including NTU physics/applied physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and applied mechanics; NYMU immunology and microbiology, and biophotonics; NTHU physics, and material sciences.
Interested candidates should send me a CV, undergrad transcript, and a cover letter which explains why you are interested to conduct your master thesis in my lab and your plan after graduation.
Full-time Research Assistants
The training and criteria for research assistants are the same as those for PhD students. Candidates must exhibit a strong commitment to research and demonstrate a solid background in academic performance. People who can commit for more than two years are considered at high priority. The time spent in the lab can be applied toward a PhD if you decide to pursue a PhD in the lab. People with undergraduate degrees who plan to apply for graduate programs abroad within a year will not be offered full salary for the full year.
Interested candidates should send Dr. Lin a CV, reference contact information, undergrad/master transcript, master's thesis, and a cover letter that describes your goals for working in the Lin lab and how you anticipate that your experience in the Lin lab will further your career.
Part-time Undergraduate Research Assistant
These positions are for undergraduates who wish to gain research experience during their undergraduate years. Candidates must exhibit a strong commitment to research by coming to the lab for a fixed amount of time every week for at least a year.
Please send Dr. Lin your transcript and a cover letter describing your personal goals, your plan after graduation, and your expectation to work in the Lin's lab.
Summer Interns
Various internship opportunities are available but only highly motivated candidates with outstanding academic backgrounds will be considered. Please send Dr. Lin your transcript, and a cover letter describing your personal goals and your expectations for working in the Lin's lab over the summer.
Applicants can also apply for one of the following internship programs.
TIGP International Internship This fellowship is particularly important for international students who are considering pursuing their PhD research in the Lin lab.
NSF Summer Institutes and NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)
NPAS Summer Internship for Undergrads
AS IOP Summer Internship for Undergrads
Taiwan Tech Track Programs
Extra Spicy
Forbidden Links
Spicy Training courses
- The Center for Biotechnology at National Taiwan University offers many training courses on the latest biotechnologies. We especially recommend the BCT course which helps many lab members to acquire biotechnique.
- The Bioresource Collection and Research Centerat the Food Industry Research and Development Institute annually offers training courses in Tissue Cell Culture and Stem Cell Culture.
- at the Marine Biological Laboratory. This course is for people who are interested to work at the interface between physical sciences and biology.
Useful Spicy Websites
- Molecular Expression Optical Microscopy Primer: excellent optical microscopy website.
- Particle Tracking
- ImageJ
Direction:
Our lab is located at the third floor of Old Building of Institute of Physics. Once you got to Institute of Physics, you can ask the front desk and change your ID there. Lin's office is right cross from the elevator. Location of Institute of Physics in Academia Sinica http://www.sinica.edu.tw/as/map/asmap.html We are at the Building 33. Directions to Academia Sinica (in Taipei) 1. By Bus : 205, 212, 212-Straight Line, 270, 270(Shuttle), 276, 306, 306(Shuttle), 620, 645, 645(Extended), S1, S12, S12(Shuttle), S5, BL25, get off at Academia Sinica stop. 2. By MRT : a. Take Blue Line (Banqiao-Nangang Line) to Nangang Exhibition Hall (the last stop). Get out from Exit No. 5, cross the street for bus 306 and get off at Academia Sinica Stop. From Airport to Academia Sinica 1. Taxi Services Taking a taxi from the airport to Academia Sinica takes 40 minutes but is more costly. (Depending on meters, around NT$ 1,500) 2. Airport Bus Airport bus ticket counters are located at the Arrival Passenger Reception area. Tickets usually cost between NTD$ 125 and 150, depending on the bus company. These buses are available every 20 minutes. At Terminal I, Bus Platform is on the southwest side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area and the Terminal II Bus Platform is on the northeast side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area on the first floor of the terminal. |