KTH Summer School of Computational Tissue Biomechanics Inspired by nature

August 12th to 21st 2026, Stockholm, Sweden

Faculty and Laboratory Instructors

Andrii Grytsan, COMSOL, Sweden
Artem Kulachenko, KTH, Sweden
David Marlevi, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Christian Linder, Stanford University, US
Gerard A. Ateshian, Columbia University, US
Hanna Isaksson, Lund University, Sweden
Marco Viceconti, University of Bologna, Italy
Seraina Dual, KTH, Sweden 
Valentina Quartieri, KTH, Sweden
Svein Kleiven, KTH, Sweden
Thomas Kleine, KTH, Sweden
T.Christian Gasser, KTH, Sweden
Vikram S. Deshpande, Cambridge University, UK

Registration. Directly at Axaco Air  (note that laboratory seats are limited to appr. 40) and read the full program for all details.

Course Content. The course introduces and applies state-of-the-art tools in the continuum mechanical analysis of hard and soft biological tissues. It provides attendees with a broad foundation towards the mechanical description of biological tissues, allowing to address individual scientific endeavors more effectively. The course is designed for Master students, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with a good background in bioengineering. It integrates physical principles, numerical approaches, and experimental concepts towards the characterization of biological tissues. The program’s holistic approach is unique in the analysis of biological tissues.

Intended Learning Outcomes. Unique opportunity to connect experimental, theoretical, and numerical know how in the description of biological tissues and man-made soft materials.

 + learn about the function of soft and hard biological tissues.
 + consolidate the essentials of continuum biomechanics and FEM.
 + learn the essentials of how to explore biological data 
 + power your studies by addressing the different (engineering, biological and clinical) aspects of tissue biomechanics.
 + acquire skills to prepare tissue specimens for experimental tissue characterization (i) biaxial tension (ii) symconCT test (iii) budge inflation
 + gain deep insight through mixed experimental numerical study approaches (COMSOL Multiphysics laboratories).
 + learn how to implement user material models in FEM packages (FEBio laboratories)
 + improve your judgment of data reported in the literature.
 + collect 2.0 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) points for your curriculum.

Quote from a previous summer school student. “…that was the most fruitful week so far in my education, and I can only recommend it to every student working with tissue biomechanics.”