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Department of
Bioengineering

Engineering innovative solutions to modern problems in medicine and biology



Welcome to Penn State Bioengineering

"This webpage is designed to highlight the many activities of  the department and intercollege graduate degree program in bioengineering.   Our goal is to provide students with a world class education in integrating biology and engineering, to engage in cutting-edge research and design, and to reach out to academia, industry, and medical schools to help shape future directions in bioengineering applications to healthcare.

We encourage you to explore this website to learn about the activities of bioengineering students and faculty at Penn State.  We hope you refer back here often for news events, updates, scheduling information, and helpful materials for students, researchers, industry contacts and funding agencies."

Cheng Dong, Ph.D.
Department Head, Bioengineering

 

Openings for Faculty Positions

The Department of Bioengineering at Penn State University seeks to hire multiple full time faculty members in the areas of:
  • molecular imaging
  • nanomedicine and biomaterials
  • tissue engineering & regenerative medicine

See the full Bioengineering Faculty jobs posting. *The search will be continuous after Jan 15, 2012 until all positions have been filled.*

Research Laboratories

Artificial Heart and Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Lab Artificial Heart and Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Keefe Manning

 

 

Visit the Artificial Heart Lab.

 

 

This research facility has been in existence since the early 1970s as Penn State faculty and researchers at the Hershey Medical Center and the University Park campus worked towards the development of a total artificial heart. Over the past 30 years, this work has lead to commercially available devices, which are used today.
Cellular Biophysics and Biotechnology Lab Cellular Biophysics and Biotechnology Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Sheereen Majd

 

 

Visit the Cellular Biophysics and Biotechnology Lab.

 

 

We are interested in fundamental understanding of the role of cell membranes in disease states and also in the application of membrane components, in particular, ion channels in nanotechnology.
Advanced Regenerative Biomaterials and Therapeutics Advanced Regenerative Biomaterials and Therapeutics Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Mohammad Reza Abidian

 

 

Visit the Advanced Regenerative Biomaterials and Therapeutics Lab.

 

 

The Abidian Lab uses a multi-disciplinary approach, to develop micro/nano-scale technologies with the ultimate goal of targeted delivery of biomolecules, biochemical sensing, and tissue engineering for central and peripheral nervous systems.
Musculoskeletal Regenerative Engineering Musculoskeletal Regenerative Engineering Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Justin Brown

 

 

Visit the Musculoskeletal Regenerative Engineering Lab.

 

 

Our research focus involves applying fundamental cell biology techniques to understand how nanoscale geometries presented by synthetic biomaterial interfaces regulate cell behavior and use the knowledge gained to focus the design of scaffolds for the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues.
MechanoBiology Lab MechanoBiology Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Peter Butler

 

 

Visit the Mechanobiology Lab.

 

 

Mechanobiology is the study of the interrelationship of force and biology. It is important in many areas of physiology, medicine, and medical device design. We are particularly interested in the mechanobiology of vascular endothelium and its role in vascular health and disease.
Cellular Biomechanics Cellular Biomechanics

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Cheng Dong

 

 

Visit the Cellular Biomechanics Lab.

 

 

Our goal as a lab is to understand how cancer spreads and the mechanisms that tumor cells use to move in and out of the vasculature, between endothelial cells. Also we are studying the role that leukocytes play in tumor cell migration and the immune response to biomaterials.
Magnetic Resonance Engineering Lab Center for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

 


 

 

Visit the Centre for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

 

 

The centre is involved in many research areas of magnetic resonance imaging and diffuse optical tomography.
Microcirculation Lab Microcirculation Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Herbert Lipowsky

 

 

Visit the Microcirculation Lab.

 

 

The central focus of our laboratory is to apply engineering techniques and methods toward gaining an understanding of mechanical factors that affect the distribution of pressure and flow in the microcirculation in health and disease.
Micro and Nano Integrated Biosystem Lab Micro & Nano Integrated Biosystem Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Siyang Zheng

 

 

Visit the MINIBio Lab.

 

 

We aim at developing innovative micro and nano technologies, applying these technologies to study complicated biological systems, and provide engineering solutions to current and future healthcare.
Molecular Biomechanics Lab Molecular Biomechanics Lab

 

Principal Investigator:
Dr. William Hancock

 

 

Visit the Molecular Biomechanics Lab.

 

 

We are interested in fundamental and applied questions regarding kinesin motor proteins and microtubules. These protein machines transport intracellular cargo such as vesicles, protein complexes, and chromosomes, throughout eukaryotic cells.
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Lab Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine Lab

 

 

Our research focuses on the application of interdisciplinary engineering principles toward understanding the processes governing engineered tissue formation and regeneration.
Therapeutic Ultrasound Applications Lab

 

 

Visit the Therapeutic Ultrasound Lab.

 

The research in the Therapeutic Ultrasound Lab at Penn State develops noninvasive methods for both treating cancer and recording temperature information from patients using ultrasound thermal therapy, noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) thermometry and adaptive feedback control.

RECENT NEWS

Congratuations Seniors and good luck! The Bioengineering Department held its annual graduation party on May 4, 2012.

 

Check out the News & Events page for more information.

Bioengineering Seminars