Staff profile

Short biography

I am a soft matter physicist with an interest in understanding the mechanistic origins of the unique and unusual mechanical properties of living materials. My research focusses in creating simple reductionist systems to understand complex biomechanical phenomena, particularly related to cytoskeletal filaments and lipid membranes. My research background is broad and varied and I enjoy making connections with researchers from connected disciplines including theoretical researchers, industrial scientists and biologists. Since joining Durham in 2020, my current interests focus on how biological networks respond and adapt to changing chemical and mechanical perturbation. 

• 2020 - present: Lecturer in Soft Condensed Matter, Durham University
• 2018-2020: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Engineered Polyproteins, University of Leeds
• 2015-2018: Postdoctoral Researcher in Biological Soft Matter, AMOLF, the Netherlands
• 2013-2015: Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanics of Lipid Membranes, University of Leeds
• 2008-2013: PhD in Physics of Biological and Soft Matter, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge and Unilever R&D
• 2003-2008: Masters Degree in Physics, University of Glasgow

• Atomic Force Microscopy/Spectroscopy
• Cytoskeletal Mechanics
• Lipid Membranes
• Microrheology
• Nonlinear Rheology
• Soft condensed matter physics

Journal Article

• Addressing the stiffness–toughness conflict in hybrid double-network hydrogels through a design of experiments approach †
  Kopnar, V., Carlyle, L., Liu, E., Khaenyook, S., O'Connell, A., Shirshova, N., & Aufderhorst-Roberts, A. (2025). Addressing the stiffness–toughness conflict in hybrid double-network hydrogels through a design of experiments approach †. Soft Matter, 21, 3604-3612. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4sm01470g
• A New Approach for On-Chip Production of Biological Microgels Using Photochemical Cross-Linking
  Del Giudice, F., Curtis, D. J., & Aufderhorst-Roberts, A. (2024). A New Approach for On-Chip Production of Biological Microgels Using Photochemical Cross-Linking. Analytical Chemistry, 96(25), 10140-10144. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01574
• Diversity of viscoelastic properties of an engineered muscle-inspired protein hydrogel
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Cussons, S., Brockwell, D. J., & Dougan, L. (2023). Diversity of viscoelastic properties of an engineered muscle-inspired protein hydrogel. Soft Matter, 19(17), 3167-3178. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sm01225a
• Scratching beyond the surface — minimal actin assemblies as tools to elucidate mechanical reinforcement and shape change
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & Staykova, M. (2022). Scratching beyond the surface — minimal actin assemblies as tools to elucidate mechanical reinforcement and shape change. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 6(6), 583-592. https://doi.org/10.1042/etls20220052
• Reaction Rate Governs the Viscoelasticity and Nanostructure of Folded Protein Hydrogels
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Hughes, M. D., Hare, A., Head, D. A., Kapur, N., Brockwell, D. J., & Dougan, L. (2020). Reaction Rate Governs the Viscoelasticity and Nanostructure of Folded Protein Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules, 21(10), 4253-4260. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01044
• From mechanical resilience to active material properties in biopolymer networks
  Burla, F., Mulla, Y., Vos, B. E., Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & Koenderink, G. H. (2019). From mechanical resilience to active material properties in biopolymer networks. Nature Reviews Physics, 1(4), 249-263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-019-0036-4
• Stiffening and inelastic fluidization in vimentin intermediate filament networks
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & Koenderink, G. H. (2019). Stiffening and inelastic fluidization in vimentin intermediate filament networks. Soft Matter, 15(36), 7127-7136. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sm00590k
• Shaping up synthetic cells
  Mulla, Y., Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & Koenderink, G. H. (2018). Shaping up synthetic cells. Physical Biology, 15(4), Article 041001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1478-3975/aab923
• Effect of ionic strength on the structure and elongational kinetics of vimentin filaments
  Lopez, C. G., Saldanha, O., Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Martinez-Torres, C., Kuijs, M., Koenderink, G. H., Koester, S., & Huber, K. (2018). Effect of ionic strength on the structure and elongational kinetics of vimentin filaments. Soft Matter, 14(42), 8445-8454. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8sm01007b
• Nanoscale mechanics of microgel particles
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Baker, D., Foster, R. J., Cayre, O., Mattsson, J., & Connell, S. D. (2018). Nanoscale mechanics of microgel particles. Nanoscale, 10(34), 16050-16061. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8nr02911c
• Stiffening and softening of cytoskeletal networks: rheological insights from minimal systems
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & Koenderink, G. (2017). Stiffening and softening of cytoskeletal networks: rheological insights from minimal systems. European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters, 46(1),
• Three-Phase Coexistence in Lipid Membranes
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Chandra, U., & Connell, S. D. (2017). Three-Phase Coexistence in Lipid Membranes. Biophysical Journal, 112(2), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2016.12.025
• The Ternary Lipid Phase Diagram by AFM
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Heath, G. R., Goodchild, J. A., & Connell, S. D. (2016). The Ternary Lipid Phase Diagram by AFM. Biophysical Journal, 110(3, 1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.11.3111
• Gels formed from amino-acid derivatives, their novel rheology as probed by bulk and particle tracking rheological methods
  Frith, W., Donald, A., Adams, D., & Aufderhorst-Roberts, A. (2015). Gels formed from amino-acid derivatives, their novel rheology as probed by bulk and particle tracking rheological methods. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 222(SI), 104-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnnfm.2014.09.008
• PE and PS Lipids Synergistically Enhance Membrane Poration by a Peptide with Anticancer Properties
  Leite, N. B., Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Palma, M. S., Connell, S. D., Ruggiero Neto, J., & Beales, P. A. (2015). PE and PS Lipids Synergistically Enhance Membrane Poration by a Peptide with Anticancer Properties. Biophysical Journal, 109(5), 936-947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.07.033
• Microrheology and Microstructure of Fmoc-Derivative Hydrogels
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Frith, W. J., Kirkland, M., & Donald, A. M. (2014). Microrheology and Microstructure of Fmoc-Derivative Hydrogels. Langmuir, 30(15), 4483-4492. https://doi.org/10.1021/la5005819
• A microrheological study of hydrogel kinetics and micro-heterogeneity
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Frith, W. J., & Donald, A. M. (2014). A microrheological study of hydrogel kinetics and micro-heterogeneity. The European Physical Journal E, 37(5), Article 44. https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2014-14044-y
• Micro-scale kinetics and heterogeneity of a pH triggered hydrogel
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., Frith, W. J., & Donald, A. M. (2012). Micro-scale kinetics and heterogeneity of a pH triggered hydrogel. Soft Matter, 8(21), 5940-5946. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2sm25158b
• General discussion
  Aufderhorst-Roberts, A., & et al. (2009). General discussion. Faraday Discussions, 143, 169-186. https://doi.org/10.1039/b915406j