Georgia Kefala

Hello !

I’m Georgia Kefala

I’m currently looking for a PhD in Biophysics starting in 2023

About Me

How I became passionate about Biophysics

My interest in biophysics is rooted in the desire to apply the theories and methods of physics to understand how biological systems work. Through my different research projects, I have become fascinated studying the mechanics of how the molecules of life are made, how different parts of a cell move and function, how complex systems in our bodies — the brain, the circulation, the immune system, etc. — work.

I’m particularly interested in the research field of cell mechanics. What is appealing to me is the complexity of cells, the out-of-the-box thinking required to develop methods and accelerate progress in this field using the quantitative sciences of physics, mathematics, and chemistry. I’m aware that cell mechanics is a field where perseverance, dedication and passion are vital to succeed, and I’m certain I possess those skills.

Working in Biophysics also gives me the unique opportunity to work alongside scientists from many fields such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, pharmacology, materials sciences, etc. who all use their skills to explore and develop new tools for understanding how all life works.

Education

Master of Science, Research in Physics: Biological Physics and Soft Matter Specialization (120 ECs)

Leiden University
Sept 2021 – Present
Leiden, The Netherlands

Average of 8.4/10 on the first year
Two research projects:

Thesis 1: Using soft hydrogel micro-particles for stress measurements in hetero-spheroids
Thesis 2 to be defined during my 2nd internship on February 2023

Modules: Biophysics, Soft Matter Physics, Statistical Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Origins and Evolution of Life, Engineering of Living Systems, Mechanical Metamaterials

Bachelor of Science in Physics (4-year degree / 240 ECTS)

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Sept 2017 – June 2021
Thessaloniki, Greece

Graduated with a grade of 8.48/10

Thesis: Improving ranking after protein-protein docking simulations using Dipole Moment, Rg and pKa

Modules: Physics, Mathematics, Programming, Physics Laboratories, Biophyics

EMBL Lautenschläger Summer School: Talents teach talents Visualising Life – Interdisciplinary Approaches to Biology

European Molecular Biology Laboratory
July 2019
Heidelberg, Germany

Granted full Scholarship by the Laboratory

Attended lectures on Imaging Biology, Microscopy, Developmental and Cell Biology, Morphogenesis and Machine Learning

Built a confocal microscope, imaged living organisms, performed image analysis using python

Work Experience

High School

Research project (MSc thesis)

Leiden Institute of Physics (LION), Leiden University

August 2022 – Present

Leiden, The Netherlands

Title: Using soft hydrogel micro-particles for stress measurements in hetero-spheroids | Supervisor: Thomas Schmidt, Prof.

Studying the stress fibroblasts and melanoma cells apply, by looking at the deformations in hydrogel micro-particles serving as stress sensors

Lab experience: cell culture, spheroid development, cell labelling, fluorescence microscopy, development of hydrogel micro-particles, labelling and activating the stress sensors (hydrogel micro-particles)

Developing a computational method in MATLAB to distinguish the two cell types and measuring the stress with methods in python and MATLAB

High School

Summer internship

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Greece

July 2021 – October 2021

Thessaly, Greece

Title: In vitro chondrogenesis induction by short peptides of the carboxy-terminal domain of Transforming Growth Factor β1| Supervisor: G. E. Papadopoulos, Ass. Prof.