Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Karen Alim

Courses and Dates

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Biophysik der Nahrungsaufnahme im Darm

The gut microbiota has a direct impact on health, influencing how the gut digests nutrients. The microbiota itself and the nutrients are influenced by the gut contractions and the fluid flow produced by them. How do different contractions influence the dispersal of bacteria and nutrients? You will simulate the fluid flows and particle dispersal in a contracting tube (possible methodologies: COMSOL, Matlab, C, etc.). The aim is to quantify which type of contraction mixes the nutrients and the bacteria better, helping to understand the basic principle behind gut functioning.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics
• Master’s Thesis Matter to Life
• Master’s Thesis Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Supervisor: Karen Alim

Geometrie eines weißen Rauchers

White smokers are likely the cradle of life. Their pores and tunnels allow for pockets of catalytic sites that fuel reactions at the very origin of life. How do these catalytic sites form and grow with the smoker? You will map out the structure of two-dimensional smoker data generated in William Orsi’s lab at LMU. Data will be translated into smoker topology to calculate flows through the smoker. You will learn Matlab, Image Analysis and the fluid physics of laminar flow in flow networks. Prerequisites: Statistical Physics and fascination for the marvels of nature.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Karen Alim

Source of energy for a gigantic cell

Where does the energy for the gigantic cell Physarum polycephalum come from? Physarum is a giant unicellular organism, that can grow up to centimeter-size. The organism behaves intelligently and makes decisions through peristaltic pumping, which drives efficient transport of signals and nutrients throughout Physarums body. To supply every part of its large cell body with energy, it needs a huge number of mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell). You will develop an assay to clarify the appearance of these organelles using fluorescence microscopy and spectrometry. Moreover, you will get the chance to image the organism and find out where the mitochondria are hidden and how many are there. With that, you might be able to set the foundation for important assumptions about the energy the organism consumes. Prerequisities: Curiosity on how cell biology goes hand in hand with physics and a fascination for uncovering the beauty of nature under the microscope.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Karen Alim

Publications

See ORCID profile of Karen Alim as well.