His group focuses its research on the investigation and development of innovative technological concepts and fabrication methods for microsystems for a wide range of applications. The application focus is on microfluidic chips, biomedical microdevices, and soft microrobotics. The group’s research approaches are often biologically inspired, translating principles from nature into technological innovations. Den Toonder’s main personal research interests are microfluidics, mechanical properties of biological cells and tissues, nature-inspired micro-actuators and organs-on-chips to understand cancer. Den Toonder teaches courses on microfabrication methods, microfluidics, and heat and flow in microsystems, in which hands-on learning is a key element.