My project, working between the Hahn and Superfine labs, uses combined Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and line-Bessel light sheet imaging to study engulfment forces during phagocytosis. This system allows for fast, high resolution imaging in the plane of force as well as volumetric imaging synchronous with sensitive AFM force measurements. With this system we have correlated the accumulation of actin around antibody-coated phagocytic targets to downward, cell-driven engulfment forces. In 3D, we have also observed podosomes in the early stages of phagocytic cup formation. Currently, we are working on a model based on parametrized geometrical quantities of the target contact area to fit the observed engulfment forces during phagocytosis. Furthermore, we have attached deformable and fluorescently labeled polyacrylamide beads to the AFM cantilever, now allowing us to investigate the local, podosome-driven deformations on the target as well as the overall downward engulfment forces.