Engineering cell fate: Leveraging compressive forces for gene editing in stem cells

Gene editing is revolutionising the treatment of blood disorders, yet delivering genetic material into fragile blood stem cells remains a major engineering challenge. Current gold‑standard methods often compromise stem cell function once transplanted back into the patient. This project explores an innovative alternative: a “microfluidic French press” that uses precisely tuned compressive forces to create transient membrane pores for non‑viral cargo entry, aiming to preserve stem cell health while maintaining efficient delivery. The student will join an interdisciplinary bioengineering team to help refine a benchtop demonstrator and generate a quantitative dataset linking mechanical force profiles to cellular outcomes. The work will involve hands-on device setup and calibration, along with carefully designed bench experiments using simple cargo proxies to map cell deformation to cellular response. No prior experience is required; comprehensive training in microfluidic instrumentation and laboratory practice will be provided. The student will gain valuable skills in microfluidics and gene editing technologies while contributing to research that demonstrates how mechanical principles can enable the next generation of safe cell therapies. Students are expected to find their own accommodation and to present their findings orally at a research day in York on 08 September 2026. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York on 08th September 2026.