Context of the project Cell mechanics is mostly governed by the cytoskeleton which is composed of three types of interconnected filaments: actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Among them, actin forms dynamic networks that can remodel rapidly in response to its environmental cues, but are not mechanically resistant to deformation. Conversely, vimentin intermediate filaments form stable networks that are highly extensible and resistant to rupture. Despite these very different properties, actin and vimentin are involved in many common cellular functions such as cell migration or mechano-sensitivity, and work in coordination to perform them. However, very few studies have focused on the interaction between actin and vimentin at the molecular level to understand the mechanisms involved in this coordination. Objectives The goal of the internship is to reconstitute in vitro certain aspects of the vimentin/actin crosstalk and understand how it is modulated under external stresses. Using original microfluidic approaches developed by the team, we will study the impact of vimentin filament tension on the recruitment of vimentin/actin crosslinkers and how this could impact the morphology of vimentin/actin composite networks.