Directory

Studies mucin dynamics to understand its role in friction and shear dissipation. Also investigates how mechanical priming modulates MSC-derived chondrocyte and macrophage behavior under stimulated joint conditions.

Studies how the mechanical environment affects the development of a more aggressive disease state in pancreatic cancer.

Investigates the impact of different mechanical micro-environments on the epigenetic reprogramming of stem cells and mammary epithelial stem cells. Also interested in determining how these epigenetic marks are changed or held stable when cells migrate between micro-environments.

Responsible for the overall management of all graduate services, including the Biological Engineering PhD Program, the Bioengineering Graduate Emphasis, and the NSF and NIH training grants.

Focuses on dissolving barriers between endogenous biochemical signals and exogenous soft materials for the fabrication of smart devices. They aim to revisit unsolved biomedical problems by integrating structurally dynamic chemistries and biomaterials into autonomous sense-response-feedback platforms.

Completed explorations in the labs of Dr. Stowers, Dr. Dey, Dr. Dressaire, and Dr. Montell. Currently completing rotations in the lab of Dr. Dewey, having previously completed one in the lab of Dr. Montell

Human stem cell research; Molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation; Derivation of ocular cells from stem cells; Soft tissue regeneration.

Molecular mechanisms of self/non-self recognition in non-vertebrates; characterization of stem cells and development process underlying regeneration and aging

Dr. Dewey's lab aims to combine biomaterials with extracellular vesicles for skeletal repair and disease treatment, including broader impacts in marine biology.

Develops single-cell sequencing technologies to study how chemical and mechanical cues regulate cell-to-cell variability in the epigenome.

Engineering ensembles of molecular motors and cytoskeletal filaments.

Investigates extracellular vesicles derived from extracellular matrix as drivers of musculoskeletal tissue repair in collagen biomaterial scaffolds. Also, applies human bone tissue engineering strategies toward coral regeneration.

Uses a combination of fluid mechanics and soft matter physics to develop new microfluidic tools and study how fluid-structure interactions control biological and bio-inspired microflows.

Completed explorations in the labs of Dr. Saleh, Dr. Pruitt, Dr. Dressaire, and Dr. Stowers. Currently completing rotations in the lab of Dr. Dressaire.

Program coordinator for Biological Engineering and its training programs. Responsible for program administration and student coordination for the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program in Data Driven Biology and the NIH T32 training grant in Quantitative Mechanobiology.

Studies the role of viscoelasticity on cell migration through a fibrillar network, using 3D cell cultures to determine the effects of matrix stiffness and stress relaxation on the activation of fibroblasts.

Studies the mechanics of collective cell migration and how different genes modulate the morphology of border cell clusters, a group of 6-8 cells in the Drosophila egg chamber that are an in vivo model for cluster migration. Also investigates additional Rho effectors.

Aims to create stable 3D channels in granular gel informing a functional artificial vascular that will support the growth of tissures in the selected culture medium.

Developing and employing protocols for correlative light and electron cryogenic microscopy and in situ cellular tomography.

Oversees department operations: Budget & Finance, Academic Personnel, Human Resources, Gifts, Procurement, Student Affairs.

Uses Theory, Experiment, Simulation To ideas, and gain insights into the evolution of patterns in complex systems. He also uses data-driven methods to learn the underlying physical laws of these complex systems.

Focuses on improving EAB sensor responses to small changes in target concentration by designing complex binding mechanisms.

Uses theory and simulations to understand the emergent behavior of active and living matter.

The Mills lab is focused on the study and engineering of protein assemblies to address challenges in plastic waste remediation, biological liquid-liquid phase separation, and oral vaccine development. Leveraging combined expertise in protein engineering, soft matter, and synthetic biology, we aim to engineer microbial and biomolecular solutions to pressing global challenges that are low-cost and accessible.

Explores the central question in neurobiology of how animal behavior and decision making are controlled by the environment.

Studies cell behaviors such as recovery from the brink of apoptotic cell death, cell cannibalism, collective cell migration, and establishment of new connections after migration.

Uses high resolution live imaging, synthetic biology and biochemistry to figure out when and where signaling molecules are activated to make these essential decisions.

Engineers molecular reporters for noninvasively imaging living systems in previously impossible ways - for example, spying on neural activity with brain-wide coverage in vertebrates and locating deep-seated infections and tumors in vivo.

Studies measurement and modeling of suspended particulates in complex fluids, such as blood or tissue.

Currently completing a joint rotation in the labs of Dr. Pruitt and Dr. Stowers

T32 Trainee, Department of Bioengineering

Program Mentor: Prof. Marley Dewey

Works at the intersection of materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology, and aims to understand interfacial phenomena and energy-dissipation at the interfaces of soft materials.

In-vivo molecular measurements, anyone?

Mechanobiology metrologies integrating quantitative imaging, biophysical, and biomolecular assays to probe the role of mechanics in cell signaling in health and disease.

Studies vesicle pore opening and disassembly by using colloidal membranes. Also seeks to make cross-linked vesicles that do not fall apart in the absence of depletants, resulting in vesicles with tunable pore sizes.

We investigate DNA repair mechanisms and use this knowledge to improve gene editing.

Investigates the mechanism behind how genes govern plasma membrane cholesterol levels and the actin cytoskeleton, enhance trogocytosis mediated death

Aims to identify the fewest components required to generate sustained beating features in active microtubule-kinesin motor systems to develop synthetic cilia

Studies molecular biophysics, particularly by building and applying high-resolution single-molecule manipulation instruments capable of mechanical and elastic measurement of biopolymer and motor protein behavior.

Develops 3D hydrogel cell culture platforms to mimic mechanical, structural, and compositional elements of native extracellular matrices and uses these to investigate how cells sense and respond to their environment

Uses ideas and concepts from physics, computer science, and mathematics to ask how embryos get in shape, and how organs function

Studying how CRISPR-cas13d could be used to implement genetic control systems in bacterial cells

Focuses on the development and application of innovative new computational, artificial intelligence, and data science tools to bridge information between the atomic and cellular scales, covering more than six orders of magnitude from Ångstroms to tens of microns.

Aims to prevent infection of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation on biomaterial implants used to treat major bone defects

Combines tools from Biology, Engineering, and Physics to understand the cell’s perceptual field.

Studies how biological systems enact control, make decisions and perform computation.