Department of Biomedical Engineering and Science

Linxia Gu, Ph.D., Head

Professors

Amy Adamson, Ph.D.; virus research, cell biology, cancer biology, cell signaling, virus-host interactions

Linxia Gu, Ph.D.; computational mechanics, stenting, head trauma, vascular biomechanics, bioresorbable stent design and optimization, failure and fracture prediction, mechanical testing

John Z. Kiss, Ph.D.; space research, space biology, plant physiology, gravitropism, phototropism

Kunal Mitra, Ph.D.; 3D bioprinting, space-based biomanufacturing, biomedical imaging and therapy, brain monitoring, levering artificial intelligence and machine learning, short pulse lasers, biomedical devices, radiation transport, nanobiosensors

Charles D. Polson, Ph.D.; application and development of biotechnology in undergraduate education, nucleic acid analysis, electrophoretic separation

Associate Professors

Mehmet Kaya, Ph.D.; wearable and noninvasive physiological monitoring, cardiovascular and autonomic function assessment, heart failure and left ventricular hemodynamics, objective pain and stress monitoring, biomedical signal processing, electrophysiology (ECG, EEG, EMG), ultrasound imaging, machine learning, computational modeling for clinically translatable diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Kenia Nunes, Ph.D.; vascular biology, signaling pathways in cardiovascular diseases, pharmacological targets to mitigate vascular damage

Shaohua Xu, Ph.D.; protein structure, function and relationship to osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s, molecular imaging, nanoscience

Assistant Professors

Melissa Borgen, Ph.D.; genetic and molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

Michelle D. Cherne, Ph.D.; organoids, extracellular matrix, gastrointestinal tract, infectious disease, mucosal immunology, microphysiological systems

Timothy Crombie, Ph.D.; quantitative genetics, genomics, machine learning and software development for high-throughput, image-based phenotyping of microorganisms

Pengfei Dong, Ph.D.; multiscale mechanical characterization of biomaterials, computational biomechanics, machine learning for biomechanics, orthopedics and orthodontics devices, computer-assisted elastography methods, biomedical devices design

Anthony El-Khouri, M.D.; marine microbiology and biogeochemistry, rusticles, bio-archaeology, medicinal byproducts of marine consortia in pharmacology, antibiotic stewardship

Tristan J. Fiedler, Ph.D.; biomedical engineering and science research seminar coordinator, doctoral dissertation seminar coordinator, academic and research security

Peshala T. Gamage, Ph.D.; cardiac health monitoring, biomedical signal processing, machine learning, physiological measurements, computational modeling of physiology, wearable sensor development

Sujoy Ghosh Hajra, Ph.D.; multivariate signal processing, artificial intelligence, bioinstrumentation, neural engineering, cognitive and physiological state, medical device development, imaging biomarkers, cardiac and neural function monitoring

Jianhui Li, Ph.D.; proteasome trafficking, proteasome degradation and assembly, cellular condensates, phase separation, cell stress response, cell signaling, autophagy, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Careesa Liu, Ph.D.; noninvasive brain imaging, neurotechnology development and application, signal processing, machine learning, cognition and neuroscience, neuroergonomics, clinical translation, aging, neuropsychiatric disorders

Professors Emeritae

Julia E. Grimwade, Ph.D.

Professors Emeriti

David J. Carroll, Ph. D.; Arvind M. Dhople, Ph.D.; Michael S. Grace, Ph.D.; Charles E. Helmstetter, Ph.D.; Alan C. Leonard, Ph.D.; Russell C. Weigel, Ph.D.; Gary N. Wells, Ph.D.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (BES) is to foster a safe working environment in the pursuit of excellence in education, research and innovation within the fields of biomedical engineering and science. Our objectives are achieved through (a) offering undergraduate and graduate curricula that equip students with the knowledge, technical expertise, communication skills and a deep understanding of professional responsibilities in their fields; (b) conducting internationally recognized research that will expand the knowledge and lead to technological innovations; and (c) providing an atmosphere that stimulates intellectual curiosity and encourages creative interactions among faculty and students. By accomplishing these goals, we aim to prepare students with the capacity to thrive in diverse professional roles across research institutions, global industries and local communities.

Research

Faculty research laboratories and ongoing activities are:

Genetic and Molecular Neurobiology, directed by Dr. Melissa Borgen. The goal of the Borgen Lab is to use genetics, cell biology and live imaging to study the intracellular molecular mechanisms that influence synapse maintenance and neurodegeneration using the C. elegans model system. Identifying new molecules that are part of the complex signaling processes that regulate neuronal development, synapse maintenance and axonal degeneration will be critical for understanding core biological processes, as well as developing future diagnostic and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Matrix Biology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Michelle Cherne, investigates how the extracellular matrix shapes mucosal host response, particularly to the oncogenic pathogen, Helicobacter pylori. Dr. Cherne investigates the interactions of the extracellular matrix with epithelial, stromal and immune cells of the gastrointestinal tract. To support this work, her lab develops human-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels and microphysiological systems to model the human gastrointestinal mucosa.

Quantitative Genetics Laboratory, directed by Dr. Timothy Crombie, is focused on understanding how genetic variation within and among natural populations can influence phenotypes related to human health and industry, such as environmental toxicant susceptibility and pesticide resistance. To identify the specific natural variants that drive those phenotypes, the lab uses several approaches, including genome-wide association, linkage mapping, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. The lab also works to improve the speed and efficiency of acquiring phenotype data by building computational pipelines to process image data using machine learning algorithms.

Orthopedic/Orthodontic Biomechanics Laboratory, directed by Dr. Pengfei Dong, focus on experimental and computational methods for orthopedic/orthodontics biomechanics. We collaborate extensively with different research groups and clinicians for the optimal design of orthodontics devices. Specific diseases and clinical needs are translated into engineering questions. Imaging processing, model reconstruction, computer simulation, and mechanical characterization of biomaterials are conducted. The computer simulation of tooth movement is performed for orthodontics biomechanics and the term tooth-device interaction. With facilities in our lab and department, multiscale mechanical characterization of the tooth and bones is conducted for quantifying the pathogenic changes of biomaterials, further leading to precision simulation. Our lab currently has three main projects: (a) optimal design of orthodontics devices for malocclusions, (b) multiscale mechanical characterization of teeth and bones and (c) computational method for elastography.

Microbiology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Anthony El-Khouri, focuses on the growth, interactions and biochemical byproducts of marine microbes (bacteria, archaea and fungi). Researching assemblages of marine consortia that reside within hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and deep-sea iron shipwrecks facilitates lateral and multidisciplinary insights among the fields of oceanic biogeochemistry, bio-archaeology, astrobiology and marine pharmacology. Emphasis is placed on the detection and isolation of novel pharmaceuticals derived from benthic microflora, particularly rusticles, in the setting of rising microbial resistance rates and antibiotic stewardship presently observed in medicine.

HEART Lab, directed by Dr. Peshala T. Gamage, develops noninvasive technologies for cardiac monitoring and physiological assessment through NIH-funded research in collaboration with leading clinical and industry partners. The lab combines heart sounds, vibrations, photoplethysmography, ECG and cardiac imaging with advanced signal processing, machine learning, and physics-based modeling, including finite element and computational fluid dynamics, to link measurable signals to underlying cardiac mechanics. In collaboration with allied labs, the HEART Lab also applies these methods to study stress- and pain-related responses using cardiac and autonomic signals. Its goal is to deliver accurate, scalable and clinically translatable tools for early detection of cardiac abnormalities and real-time monitoring of physiological states.

Health and Performance Technologies Laboratory, directed by Dr. Sujoy Ghosh Hajra, operates at the intersection of engineering, neuroscience and physiology to improve our understanding of and create innovations for heart and brain health. The lab combines a data-driven computational approach with noninvasive multimodal brain and heart imaging, electromagnetic modulation techniques and assays of cognitive, behavioral and clinical measurements towards three foci: 1) basic science: create scientific findings to advance knowledge of heart and brain function, 2) clinical: create medical device innovations to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as dementia and traumatic brain injury, 3) nonclinical: monitor and enhance human performance in real-world settings especially in aviation and space domains.

Cardiovascular and Trauma Biomechanics Laboratory, directed by Dr. Linxia Gu, specializes in biophysical simulation and testing with primary focus on soft tissue mechanics and cellular mechanotransduction. The lab utilizes advanced simulation and imaging processing software, including Abaqus^®, ANSYS^®, Digimat^®, Amira^®, Mimics^®, 3D Slicer^®, and Seg3D. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art instruments such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), Hysitron TI Premier Dynamic Nanoindenter, CellScale MicroTester, BioTester, uniaxial tester, TBI-0310 Head Impactor, Trilion ARAMIS^® testing system, in-house cell damage tester and organ culture system.The lab collaborates with medical professionals on interdisciplinary research projects including (a) computer-assisted stenting in heavily calcified coronary arteries, (b) traumatic brain injury (TBI) and blunt eye trauma and (c) integration of machine-learning methods with finite element method (FEM). The lab has established robust platforms for optimizing stenting procedures and enhancing the understanding of mild TBI mechanisms.

The Wearable Instrumentation and Sensing (WISe) Lab, directed by Dr. Mehmet Kaya, develops AI-enabled wearable sensing technologies for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cardiovascular, autonomic, and nociceptive physiology. Supported by NIH-funded research, the lab focuses on heart failure management through the estimation of left ventricular function including ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output, and stroke volume variation using precordial vibration sensing (seismocardiography and gyrocardiography), cardiac imaging, ultrasound imaging, computational modeling, and machine learning. The lab also leads research in objective pain and stress monitoring by integrating cardiac time intervals, ECG, EEG, EMG, heart rate variability, and autonomic biomarkers into AI-driven wearable systems such as Pain Vitals for real-time assessment during surgery, recovery, and ambulatory care. Across all projects, the WISe Lab emphasizes low-cost, clinically translatable solutions and provides immersive multidisciplinary research experiences for students through close collaboration with medical centers and industry partners.

Space Biology Laboratory, directed by Dr. John Z. Kiss, is focused on how gravity and light responses influence each other in plants to better understand the cellular signaling mechanisms involved in plant tropisms—directed plant movements in response to external stimuli. His group also is interested in the role of red light as an environmental cue capable of counteracting the adverse effects of the lack of a gravity vector during spaceflight on plant growth and development. Learning how plants adapt to weightlessness and low-gravity environments is important for determining the ability of vegetation to provide a complete, sustainable, dependable and economical means for human life support in space. The ability of plants to provide a source of food and to recycle carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen may prove critical for astronauts who will live in space for months at a time. In addition, in the long term, this new knowledge of how plants grow and develop at a molecular level should lead to significant advances in agriculture on Earth.

Proteasome Biology and Regulation Laboratory, directed by Dr. Jianhui Li, is interested in proteasome regulation. We use an integrated mix of yeast genetics, cell and molecular biology, structural biology and protein biochemistry to explore how cell signaling pathways and autophagy regulate proteasome trafficking and degradation under changing nutrient conditions. We also collaborate with structural biologists and high-throughput screen biologists to advance proteasome regulation and cell signaling fields. What we learned from our projects will provide insights for novel strategies and therapeutic targets in human disease treatment.

Neurotechnology and Neural Engineering Laboratory, directed by Dr. Careesa Liu, combines noninvasive brain imaging methods such as electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with advanced analytics and machine learning to study brain function, with the goal of creating novel technologies and digital biomarkers to improve brain function assessment in health and disease. Current projects include examining the neural correlates of information processing following spontaneous blinking (blink-related oscillations); developing imaging-based techniques to advance brain function assessment in a variety of situations ranging from clinical disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) to everyday scenarios (e.g., driving) and complex operational environments (e.g., aircraft cockpits); and creating portable, user-friendly devices for objective brain function monitoring in real life.

Biomanufacturing Laboratory, directed by Dr. Kunal Mitra, deals with 3D bioprinting of vascular tissues with focus on understanding the effects of space radiation and microgravity on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. They are also developing a microfluidic based tissue organoid model for studying aging-related diseases during exposure to various stressors and high-throughput screening platform for precise drug administration and regenerative medicine applications. His team also applied optical technologies to disease detection and treatment. His lab developed a novel flexible low-power quantum dot LED-based near-infrared spectroscopy system that integrates machine learning to measure regional cerebral oxygen saturation and cerebral blood flow for monitoring of traumatic brain injury and cerebrovascular dysfunction in astronauts during long duration flights.

Vascular Biology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Kenia Nunes, focuses on vascular diseases and their complications by using in-vivo, ex-vivo, and in-vitro models to study cardiovascular conditions, mainly diabetes and hypertension. The lab also researches signaling pathways leading to vascular damage due to radiation and microgravity. The aim is to discover new pharmacological targets for mitigating vascular problems by using state-of-the-art techniques to unveil the blood vessels at macro, micro, and nano levels. The main ongoing research projects are (a) investigating how the innate immune system receptors contribute to vascular problems and (b) How HSP70 mediates vascular mechanisms.

Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Shaohua Xu, is interested in the role of amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s brain in synapse and neuronal loss and the mechanism of protein self-assembly and formation of amyloid fiber plaques or biogels and how various amyloid protein aggregates affect neuron’s action potential propagation. We apply iWork, AFM, TEM, confocal microscopy, MALDI mass spectrometry, microplate reader for high-throughput screening and traditional biochemical and molecular biology approaches to understand the effect of protein aggregates on the action potential of axons, and, at the molecular level, pathway and the energy driving protein fiber formation. Protein amyloid fiber formation is an early event in dozens of human diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, prion disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy