Advent calendar - December 24th - Baukje van der Ben

In the Zernike Institute Advent Calendar, we are presenting 24 short spotlights in December. In these specials, we highlight PhD students, postdocs, support staff and technicians of our research groups and team - providing a glimpse into their typical day at work. In Episode 24 meet Baukje van der Ben, PhD researcher in the Biofabrication and Bio-instructive Materials Group of Dr. Malgorzata Wlodarczyk-Biegun.

I am a first-year PhD student in the Biofabrication and Bio-instructive Materials Group, led by Dr. Malgorzata Wlodarczyk-Biegun. Our group works at the interface of materials science and biofabrication, using polymers and hydrogels to create advanced in vitro systems. At the moment, we are focusing on developing a more realistic breast cancer model that captures the complexity of real tissue. By building complex bioprinted structures that mimic the natural environment of tissues. The more accurately we can replicate tissue in the lab, the more we can learn about the disease, and the more we can optimize experiments before moving to in vivo models. This not only helps reduce animal testing but also avoids wasted resources when research fails to translate from simple 2D systems to the more complex 3D environments found in living organisms.

My current project revolves around using microfluidics to design and fabricate microgels, which offer an incredible amount of flexibility: their size, stiffness, composition, and even their responsiveness to specific triggers can all be precisely tuned. One of the reasons we explore microgels for bioprinting is their shear-thinning behaviour. In simple terms, they behave like a fluid when pressure is applied, allowing them to flow smoothly through a nozzle ,but once the pressure is removed, they return to their more solid state. This transition from fluid-like to solid-like enables the formation of stable, porous structures that cells can move through and interact with.

In my work, I develop microfluidic chips that allow us to produce these microgels in a controlled and reproducible way while also studying how they interact with oxidants, reductants, and other factors under flow. I am also exploring chip designs that can encapsulate cells and mix different components directly on the device. Altogether, these efforts aim to build a more realistic and adaptable platform for studying breast cancer in vitro.

What I enjoy most about this work is how seamlessly it combines physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering , every day feels like a new challenge. My background is in biomedical engineering, which is already a highly multidisciplinary field, and during my master’s I specialized in biomaterials. I enjoy the hands-on problem-solving, designing experiments, and contributing my own ideas to explore new possibilities. Many of the things we try haven’t been done before, which leaves plenty of room for curiosity, experimentation, and innovation.,allowing me to continue building on my interests while exploring new approaches to complex biological systems.

The atmosphere in our group makes it even better. We are a young, diverse team with people from different scientific backgrounds, and everyone is open, helpful, and genuinely enthusiastic. It creates a collaborative environment where new ideas develop naturally.

Outside the lab, I love cooking, traveling, and scuba diving. I’m always looking for new dishes to try, so if you have any good recipes, I’d love to hear them!

See all Advent Calendar items 2025 here!