This workshop is aimed at PhD students and postdocs from the fields of Mathematics and Technical Biology to work at the intersection of these disciplines in the area of microfluidic systems. The goal of the workshop is to foster interdisciplinary communication and develop a better understanding of each other's work. Often, mathematicians and biologists work with different concepts, terminologies, and perspectives, which can lead to misunderstandings and communication barriers. This workshop aims to break down these barriers through hands-on activities.

The first morning will start with a laboratory safety lecture which is followed by a tour around the new ?BioInnovations“ laboratories and an introduction to the high-resolution 3D printers. Subsequently, in a lecture on 3D printing for microfluidics in biotechnology, the participants will receive detailed theoretical insights into the applications and challenges of micromixers for biological applications. In the afternoon, the participants will explore 3D-printed microfluidic mixing systems and their mixing efficiency in the laboratory. Here, mathematicians will gain firsthand experience of how experiments are conducted, the practical challenges involved, and which specific biological parameters are important.
On the second day, the focus will lie on fluid dynamic simulations. The morning will start with a lecture on fluid dynamic simulations which is followed by a lecture on the finite element method. In the afternoon, using the software tool COMSOL, participants will simulate an experiment from the first day's laboratory session and learn how to develop and validate mathematical models for microfluidic processes. The importance of parameters, assumptions, and model limitations will also be discussed. Here, students from the technical biology field will have the opportunity to understand the technical and mathematical foundations of simulations and learn how to translate their experimental data into mathematical models.

The workshop aims not only to link technological and biological questions but also to improve the understanding of the working methods and thought processes in each discipline. The goal is to foster long-term interdisciplinary collaborations and address the shared challenges in research.