Dr. Sandra Loerakker

Biography

Sandra Loerakker is an Associate Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, focusing on the research group of Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology. Her research emphasizes modeling mechanobiology of native and engineered tissues using integrated computational and experimental methods to enhance the understanding of biological mechanisms responsible for soft tissue development, homeostasis, and disease. This work aims to translate findings into novel therapies in the regenerative medicine field and primarily centers on understanding the mechanical factors driving soft tissue growth and remodeling across spatial and temporal scales. Through computational modeling, Sandra has advanced the understanding of growth and remodeling in engineered cardiovascular tissues. She trained in Biomedical Engineering at TU/e, obtaining her BSc and MSc degrees with honors and starting her PhD research on the etiology and early detection of deep pressure ulcers in skeletal muscle in 2007. After defending her PhD thesis in 2011, she received the Doctoral Thesis Biomechanics Award (2012) and continued as a postdoctoral researcher in heart valve biomechanics and mechanobiology. In 2015, she became an Assistant Professor and then an Associate Professor in 2019, earning prestigious grants such as the ERC Starting Grant and Vidi grant. Sandra actively contributes to the academic community, serving on various editorial boards and councils, including the European Society of Biomechanics and the Eindhoven Young Academy Engineering.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards