Ester Comellas Sanfeliu

Associate professor
Campus Terrassa (UPC), Edifici Gaia, Despatx 181
Rambla Sant Nebridi, 22
08222 Terrassa

E-Mail: ester.comellas

upc.edu
Web del grup de recerca: https://futur.upc.edu/176438
Web personal: https://futur.upc.edu/EsterComellasSanfeliu

My main research interest is in computational solid mechanics and advanced material modelling. I am particularly keen on working in biomechanical and mechanobiological applications within this field. I seek to integrate theoretical modelling, computational simulations, and experiments to understand complex material responses, in particular matter that adapts to its environment like living tissues do. I am starting to explore the field of bio-inspired metamaterials from a modellers perspective. I plan on applying my knowledge in advanced material modelling to the computational design of novel materials and structures for aerospace applications.

Short CV

2025 - present: Serra Húnter Associate Professor. Aerospace Engineering Section, Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa.
2021 - 2025: Serra Húnter Lecturer. Aerospace Engineering Section, Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa.
2021 - 2022: Marie Curie Global Fellow. Project 841047-COMPLIMB, return phase. Department of Mathematics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona.
2019 - 2021: Marie Curie Global Fellow. Project 841047-COMPLIMB, outgoing phase. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston (US).
2016 - 2018: Postdoctoral research contract. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen (Germany).
2016: Postdoctoral research contract. International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Barcelona.
2016: Part-time associate lecturer. Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa.
2011 - 2016: Ph.D. in Structural Analysis. Thesis title: Numerical modelling of growth and remodelling phenomena in biological tissues; Advisors: Sergio Oller and Facundo Bellomo. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona.
2009 - 2011: M.Sc. in Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact. Cranfield University, Cranfield (UK).
2009: Stress engineer at SENER Engineering Group, Barcelona.
2006 - 2009: M.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa.
2003 - 2006: B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (specialised in Air Navigation Systems). Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels.

1- Model-driven exploration of poro-viscoelasticity in human brain tissue: be careful with the parameters!
Greiner, A.; Reiter, N.; Hinrichsen, J.; Kainz, M.; Sommer, G.; Holzapfel, G.; Steinmann, P.; Comellas, E.; Budday, S.
Interface Focus 14, 6, article 20240026 (2024)

2- I’m stuck! How to efficiently debug computational solid mechanics models so you can enjoy the beauty of simulations
Comellas, E.; Pelteret, J.; Bangerth, W.
European journal of mechanics. A, Solids 97, 104845 (2023)

3- Poro-viscoelastic material parameter identification of brain tissue-mimicking hydrogels
Kainz, M.; Greiner, A.; Hinrichsen, J.; Kolb, D.; Comellas, E.; Steinmann, P.; Budday, S.; Terzano, M.; Holzapfel, G.
Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology 11, 1143304 (2023)

4- Usability of deep learning pipelines for 3D nuclei identification with Stardist and Cellpose
Kleinberg, G.; Wang, S.; Comellas, E.; Monaghan, J.; Shefelbine, S.
Cells and development 172, 203806 (2022)

5- The role of computational models in mechanobiology of growing bone
Comellas, E.; Shefelbine, S.
Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology 10, 1-5 (2022)

6- Local mechanical stimuli correlate with tissue growth in axolotl salamander joint morphogenesis
Comellas, E.; Farkas, J.; Kleinberg, G.; Lloyd, K.; Mueller, T.; Duerr, T.; Muñoz, J.J.; Monaghan, J.; Shefelbine, S.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Biological sciences 289, 1975 (2022)

7- Poro-viscoelastic effects during biomechanical testing of human brain tissue
Greiner, A.; Reiter, N.; Paulsen, F.; Holzapfel, G.; Steinmann, P.; Comellas, E.; Budday, S.
Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering 7, 708350-1-708350-18 (2021)

8- 3D visualization of macromolecule synthesis
Duerr, T.; Comellas, E.; Jeon, E.K.; Farkas, J.; Joetzjer, M.; Garnier, J.; Shefelbine, S.; Monaghan, J.
eLife 9, e60354-1-e60354-17 (2020)

9- Modeling the porous and viscous responses of human brain tissue behavior
Comellas, E.; Budday, S.; Pelteret, J.; Holzapfel, G.; Steinmann, P.
Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering 369, 113128-1-113128-22 (2020)

10- On the feasibility of the computational modelling of the endoluminal vacuum-assisted closure of an oesophageal anastomotic leakage
Comellas, E.; Bellomo, F.; Rosales, I.; Castillo, L. F. del; Sánchez, R.; Turon, P.; Oller, S.
Royal Society Open Science 5, 1-23 (2018)

11- A homeostatic-driven turnover remodelling constitutive model for healing in soft tissues
Comellas, E.; Gasser, T.; Bellomo, F.; Oller, S.
Journal of the Royal Society Interface 13, 116 (2016)

12- A generalized finite-strain damage model for quasi-incompressible hyperelasticity using hybrid formulation
Comellas, E.; Bellomo, F.; Oller, S.
International journal for numerical methods in engineering 105, 781-800 (2016)

13- Optimization method for the determination of material parameters in damaged composite structures
Comellas, E.; Valdez, S.; Oller, S.; Botello Rionda, Salvador
Composite structures 122, 417-424 (2015)