Research

Research

Research topics range from studying the skeletal mechanical environment and its regulation of cancer, to light-matter interaction in nanoscale materials for imaging and diagnostics, to developing strategies for rationally engineering next-generation smart antimicrobials that can eliminate multi-drug resistant superbugs.

Our program's efforts are organized by these research areas:

Biomechanics and Mechanobiology

Biomechanics and mechanobiology impact biological systems across multiple length scales, from subcellular to whole organism. Biomechanics is the study of mechanical laws related to the movement and structures of living organisms, while mechanobiology addresses the production, maintenance, and adaptation of cells as an active response to biophysical stimuli in their environment. These disciplines will prepare students for medical school and graduate school.  An emphasis on biomechanics prepares students for careers, such as in sports medicine and physical therapy.  An emphasis in mechanobiology provides insights into tissue physiology and disease development and offers new perspectives in therapeutic strategies, useful to physicians and researchers.

  Associated Faculty: Alaa Ahmed, Sarah Calve, Jennifer Cha, Torin Clark, Xiaoyun Ding, Roger Enoka, Ginger Ferguson, Alena Grabowski, Allison Hayman, Jun Li, Maureen Lynch, Debanjan Mukherjee, Corey Neu, Richard Regueiro, Mark Rentschler, Wei Tan, Franck Vernerey,  Cara Welker, Nicole Xu

Jacob segil, prosthetic device

Medical Devices

The medical devices track focuses on engineering practice and innovation, meeting the current and future industry demands for the state. An increasing number of technologies and applications, combined with the needs of an aging population and growing reliance on personalized medicine, suggest a growing demand for biomedical engineers with experience in devices.

  Associated Faculty: Mirela Alistar, Carson Bruns, Jennifer Cha, Rob Davis, Xiaoyun Ding, Juliet Gopinath, Alena Grabowski, Jun Li,  Bob McLeod, Todd Murray, Won Park, Mark Rentschler, Sriram Sankaranarayanan, Wyatt Shields, Wei Tan, Cara Welker, Tom Yeh, Yide Zhang

Blood dialysis device

Therapeutics

As the world shifts towards more effective, accessible and personalized healthcare, Biomedical Engineers will need to apply their knowledge of transport phenomena, immunology, and biochemical engineering in unique ways. Therapeutics involves the integration of these principles to develop robust solutions to challenges in antibiotic resistance, targeted cancer treatment, and tissue regeneration.

  Associated Faculty: Mary Ann Allen, Mark Borden, Rob Davis, Antonio Del Rio Flores, Robin Dowell, Ginger Ferguson, Jerome Fox, Mark Hernandez, Laurel Hind, Ryan Layer, Jun Li, Maureen Lynch, Todd Murray, Corey Neu, Mark Rentschler, Wyatt Shields, Sabrina Spencer, Kayla Sprenger, Wei Tan

Anushree Chatterjee lab

Imaging and Diagnostics

Imaging and diagnostics envelopes a wide range of methods to non-invasively look inside of the body. Medical imaging is an integral part of modern healthcare, encompassing a growing range of technologies that span whole organism to subcellular length scales to provide structural and functional information of health and disease. Imaging devices can be found in hospitals, clinics, and research laboratories throughout the world, requiring a growing need for biomedical engineers to lead the development of new technologies.

  Associated Faculty: Mark Borden, Nick Bottenus, Carson Bruns, Sarah Calve, Xiaoyun Ding, Ginger Ferguson, Juliet Gopinath, Shu-Wei Huang, Bob McLeod, Debanjan Mukherjee, Todd Murray, Chris Myers, Corey Neu, Won Park, Rafael Piestun, Wyatt Shields, Yide Zhang

Colon imaging medical device

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