Manuel P. Kainz

Manuel Kainz

Graz University of Technology
Institute of Biomechanics
Stremayrgasse 16/2
8010 Graz, Austria

Phone: 0316-873-35511
Phone (overseas): ++43-316-873-35511
E-mail: kainz@TUGraz.at

 

Biography

Education

5/21 – 4/26: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Austria (with distinction)
2/18 – 11/20: M.Sc. Technical Physics, Graz University of Technology, Austria (with distinction)
10/14 – 1/18: B.Sc. Physics, Graz University of Technology, Austria
2013: Graduation certificate from Technical High School (with distinction)

Professional Appointments

Since 5/26:: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Biomechanics, Graz University of Technology, Austria
3/25 – 6/25: Visiting Researcher, Cardio Biomechanics Lab, University of Michigan, MI, USA with Prof. David A. Nordsletten
5/21 – 4/26: Doctoral Research Associate, Institute of Biomechanics, Graz University of Technology, Austria
12/20 – 1/21: University Assistant, Institute of Solid State Physics, Graz University of Technology, Austria
7/19 – 8/19: Visiting Researcher, Department of Chemical Engineering, Wayne State University, USA

Awards and Honors

10/25: Best Oral Presentation Award, EBM International Symposium on Brain Mechanics, FAU Erlangen
3/25: Best Poster Presentation Award (1st place), Styrian Brain Research Initiative, (INGE St. Day)
3/25: Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Scholarship for research stay at the University of Michigan
6/24: Best Poster Presentation Award (1st place), Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics 2024, Imperial College [Image]
4/24: Research Prize of the Styrian Brain Research Initiative (INGE St.) 2023
2018: ams AG (now ams-OSRAM AG) scholarship used for the Erasmus+ Program

Publications

M. Polz, M.P. Kainz, N. Haider, T. Rienmüller, K. Lenk, R. Kargl, M. Terzano, G. Sommer, G.A. Holzapfel and J. Fuchs [pdf]
Cellular responses to mechanical cues across scales: from fundamental insights to translational potential.
Advanced Healthcare Materials, in press.
M.P. Kainz, M. Terzano, D. Kolb and G.A. Holzapfel [pdf]
Effective porosity and fluid flow in macroporous ultrasoft hydrogels: An experimental characterization.
Acta Biomaterialia, 217:458-474, 2026.
M.P. Kainz, M. Polz, D. Ziesel, M. Nowakowska, M. Üçal, S. Kienesberger, S. Hasiba-Pappas, R. Winter, N. Ghaffari Tabrizi-Wizsy, S. Kager, T. Rienmüller, J. Fuchs, M. Terzano, Ch. Baumgartner and G.A. Holzapfel [pdf]
Biointegration of soft tissue-inspired hydrogels on the chorioallantoic membrane: An experimental characterization.
Materials Today Bio, 22:20240361, 2025.
A. Greiner, N. Reiter, J. Hinrichsen, M.P. Kainz, G. Sommer, G.A. Holzapfel, P. Steinmann, E. Comellas and S. Budday [pdf]
Model-driven exploration of poro-viscoelasticity in human brain tissue: Be careful with the parameters!
Interface Focus, 14:20240026, 2024.
S. Saeidi, M.P. Kainz, M. Dalbosco, M. Terzano and G.A. Holzapfel [pdf]
Histology-informed multiscale modeling of human brain white matter.
Scientific Reports, 13:19641, 2023.
M. Terzano, M.P. Wollner, M.P. Kainz, M. Rolf-Pissarczyk, N. Götzen and G.A. Holzapfel [pdf]
Modelling the anisotropic inelastic response of polymeric scaffolds for in situ tissue engineering applications.
Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 20:20230318, 2023.
M.P. Kainz, A. Greiner, J. Hinrichsen, D. Kolb, E. Comellas, P. Steinmann, S. Budday, M. Terzano and G.A. Holzapfel [pdf]
Poro-viscoelastic material parameter identification of brain tissue-mimicking hydrogels.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11:1143304, 2023.
L. Legenstein, S. Rodríguez-Hermida, V. Rubio-Giménez, T. Stassin, S. Hofer, M.P. Kainz, M. Fratschko, F. Carraro, P. Falcaro, R. Ameloot and R. Resel [pdf]
Identifying the internal network structure of a new copper isonicotinate thin-film polymorph obtained via chemical vapor deposition.
Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2202461, 2023.
M.P. Kainz, L. Legenstein, V. Holzer, S. Hofer, M. Kaltenegger, R. Resel and J. Simbrunner [pdf]
GIDInd: an automated indexing software for grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction data.
Journal of Applied Crystallography, 54:1256-1267, 2021.

Biographical Sketch

Manuel P. Kainz is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Biomechanics at Graz University of Technology. He is currently a key contributor to an international WEAVE project in collaboration with Charité Berlin, investigating the factors influencing the pathological tortuosity of the carotid artery. Alongside this primary research, he leads parallel initiatives in the development and biomechanical characterization of soft biomimetic materials for advanced biomedical applications.

He earned his doctorate (Dr. techn.) in Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Gerhard A. Holzapfel. His PhD research centered on developing experimental techniques to analyze the relationship between the structural and mechanical properties of brain tissue and related biomaterials.

Manuel holds a Master of Science in Technical Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from TU Graz (NAWI Graz). His academic trajectory is defined by a strong global footprint, including an academic year at Uppsala University in Sweden, a summer research program at Wayne State University, and an Austrian Marshall Plan Fellowship for a research stay at the University of Michigan.