Neuromechanics: Engineering the Brain with Prof. Sylvia Budday & Oskar Neumann

What if understanding the brain required thinking like a mechanical engineer? In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible, we explore an emerging field that is reshaping neuroscience—neuromechanics, where forces, stiffness, and material properties become key to understanding the brain and spinal cord. 🧭 From Engineering to Neuroscience Professor Sylvia Budday and doctoral researcher Oskar Neumann share their unconventional journeys into neuroscience—from mechanical and civil engineering into one of the most interdisciplinary frontiers of brain research. Oskar's path began in civil engineering, where he studied structures, materials, and mechanics before transitioning into neuromechanics and modeling spinal cord tissue. Sylvia's journey led her to apply continuum mechanics to the brain—revealing insights that traditional neuroscience alone could not explain. Their stories highlight a powerful idea: 👉 Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from outside the field. 🧠 Understanding the Brain as a Mechanical System At the core of neuromechanics is a fundamental question: How do mechanical forces shape the nervous system? Their work shows that the brain is not just biological—it is also: Ultra-soft and highly dynamic Viscoelastic, meaning it responds differently over time and under different conditions Sensitive to forces, pressure, and deformation Key insights include: Brain folding during development can arise from mechanical compression Neural cells respond to stiffness gradients, guiding growth and regeneration Gray and white matter behave differently depending on how they are tested These discoveries challenge long-held assumptions and open new ways of understanding brain function and disease. 🧗 Challenges: Studying the Softest Tissue in the Body Working with brain and spinal cord tissue presents unique challenges: Extreme softness makes experiments difficult and highly variable Results differ depending on measurement method, scale, and conditions Translating findings from ex vivo to in vivo remains complex Bridging language and knowledge across disciplines, from engineering to biology As Oskar describes, even measuring something as "simple" as stiffness becomes a complex scientific problem. 🔬 Bridging Scales: From Cells to Systems One of the most exciting aspects of neuromechanics is its ability to connect multiple levels of the nervous system: Cellular level: how neurons sense and respond to mechanical cues Tissue level: how properties like stiffness influence structure System level: how the brain deforms during surgery or injury By combining experiments with computational models, their work aims to build digital twins of the brain—simulations that could transform research and clinical practice. 🚀 Applications & Future Directions Neuromechanics is opening new possibilities across neuroscience and medicine: Spinal cord injury and regeneration, including stiffness-guided repair strategies Neurosurgery, by accounting for brain deformation during procedures Brain development and disorders, including epilepsy-related malformations Biomaterials design, such as hydrogels for tissue repair Looking ahead, the field is moving toward: Integration of AI with physics-based models Development of patient-specific brain simulations Better in vivo measurement techniques 💡 Career Insights for Aspiring Neurotech Innovators Sylvia and Oskar offer powerful advice for those entering the field: Your original discipline is your strength—not a limitation You don't need to know everything about neuroscience to start Learn by collaborating across fields Be ready to build a "shared language" with other disciplines Curiosity and persistence matter more than a perfect background 👉 Interdisciplinary science is not about switching fields—it's about connecting them. 🌱 Closing Reflection This episode reveals a profound shift in how we think about the brain. What once seemed unlikely—using mechanical engineering to understand neural function—is now unlocking entirely new directions in neuroscience. As this field grows, one thing becomes clear: The future of neuroscience belongs to those who can think across boundaries. Chapters 00:00:02 - Neuromechanics: Engineering the Brain and Spinal Cord 00:03:33 - Interdisciplinary Approach to Brain Biomechanics Research 00:06:33 - From Civil Engineering to Biomechanics Research 00:10:25 - Defining Neuromechanics: Mechanics in Brain Development 00:14:15 - History of Mechanics in Brain Research 00:16:03 - Applications of Neuromechanics in Regeneration 00:20:58 - Brain Tissue Mechanics: Stiffness and Measurement Methods 00:28:17 - Lab Protocols and Experimental Discrepancies in Tissue Testing 00:31:46 - Experimental Variability in Neural Tissue Mechanics 00:35:13 - From Ex Vivo to In Vivo Brain Testing 00:39:43 - AI and Hybrid Models in Biomechanics Research 00:45:22 - Mechanical Engineering Skills for Neuromechanics 00:51:47 - Learning Neuroscience Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration 00:55:36 - Mechanical Engineering Insights in Brain Tissue 01:00:55 - Mechanics in Brain Surgery and Research 01:04:34 - Balancing Career and Parenthood in Academia 01:06:50 - Thank You and Neurocareer Resources Available About the Podcast Guests Professor Sylvia Budday Professor Sylvia Budday is a Professor of Continuum Mechanics and Biomechanics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU), Germany. Her research focuses on understanding the brain and spinal cord through the lens of mechanics—exploring how physical forces influence development, function, and disease. She leads the Brainiacs research group and is a key contributor to the Collaborative Research Center "Exploring Brain Mechanics (CRC 1540)", where interdisciplinary teams work at the intersection of engineering, neuroscience, and medicine. 🔗 Learn more: Lab website: https://www.lkm.tf.fau.eu/ Research Center (Exploring Brain Mechanics): https://www.crc1540-ebm.research.fau.eu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-budday/ Brainiacs Lab: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brainiacs-lab/ Oskar Neumann Oskar Neumann is a doctoral researcher in neuromechanics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU). With a background spanning civil engineering, mechanics, and computational modeling, his work focuses on the mechanical characterization and simulation of spinal cord tissue. Oskar's career path highlights the interdisciplinary nature of neuromechanics itself: he began by studying structures and materials in civil engineering before applying those same principles to one of the softest and most complex materials in nature—the nervous system. His research explores how mechanical properties—such as stiffness and loading conditions—affect spinal cord injury and regeneration, contributing to more realistic models of nervous tissue and future therapeutic strategies. 🔗 Learn more: Lab website: https://www.lkm.tf.fau.eu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskar-neumann-a1209b175/ 🌐 Additional Resources Collaborative Research Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exploring-brain-mechanics-collaborative-research-center/?viewAsMember=true About the Podcast Host The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neurotech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed. Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K: Identification and pursuit of career goals Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals You can always schedule a neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/neurocareer-consultation Subscribe to our Neurocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news and updates at https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news