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Current Focus

• Swimming dynamics of micro- to mesoscale organisms
• Soft matter mechanics of living materials, such as tiny plant roots and immune cells
• Droplets and capillary phenomena
• Further development of the micropipette force sensor technique

Research Highlights

New papers from the group (group members in bold, † shared 1st authors):

• 
  L. Malik†, N. Sharadhi†, M. Lamminmäki, R. A. Lara, V. Jokinen, and M. Backholm*
  arXiv:2509.20005 (2025).
• 
  A. Datar, J. Ryssy, A. O. Toivonen, and M. Backholm*
  arXiv:2509.08331 (2025).
• 
  R. A. Lara†, N. Sharadhi†, A. A. L. Huttunen, L. Ansas, E. J. G. Rislakki, G. M. Bessa, and M. Backholm*
  Communications Physics 9, 53(2026). Data shared on .
• 
  S. Askari†, G. Saldo Rubio†, A. Datar, H. Harjunpää, S. C. Fagerholm*, and M. Backholm*
  J. R. Soc. Interface 22, 20250231 (2025). Data shared on .

These papers showcase the PhD and postdoc research of Prof. Backholm:

• 
  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). Data shared on .
• 
  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).
• 
  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).
• 
  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).
• 
  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.]
• 
  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]
• 
  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]
• 
  M. Backholm, W. S. Ryu, and K. Dalnoki-Veress
  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (PNAS) 110, 4528-4533 (2013).