#  Research 

 



Our group’s primary research focus is on understanding biological design. This includes nature’s mechanism for mechanotransduction. In this regard, we are interested in how extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal architecture potentiate and modulate the activation of mechanochemical and mechanoelectrical signaling pathways and genetic programs in cardiac, neural, and vascular smooth muscle cells and tissues. In order to study these mechanisms at different spatial scales, we use cellular and tissue engineering techniques that allow us to build custom-designed tissue constructs as experimental preparations.

Our group also has a growing effort in biologically-inspired design. This includes our work with electroactive polymer actuators, bio-inspired photonic systems, nanotextiles, and cell and tissue self-assembly as a system for rapid-prototyping of nonbiological systems.

*Current areas of active research include:*

[Mechanotransduction](/research-mechanotransduction) – the role of mechanical stress, cell shape, and cell architecture on cell function.

[Tissue Engineering](/research-tissue-engineering) – development of tissue grafts and scaffolds with unique structures and functions.

[Brain Injury](/research-brain-injury) – investigating the mechanisms of traumatic brain injury at a cell and tissue scale.

[Nanotextiles](/research-nanotextiles) – developing new techniques for mimicking ECM networks for regenerative medicine and other industrial applications.

[Microdevices](/research-microdevices) – designing and building microscale soft biological constructs which retain their unique biological functionalities.



 

##  What's New 

 



  [### The DBG Congratulates Dr. Kevin Shani!

 ](/news/2025/11/dbg-congratulates-dr-kevin-shani) November 18, 2025 

 The DBG would like to extend our congratulations to DBG member Kevin Shani for the completion of their PhD program! 

 

 

   [### Farewell to Simone Nuebling

 ](/news/2025/09/farewell-simone-nuebling) September 30, 2025 

 The DBG would like to extend our gratitude to Simone Nuebling as she leaves her role as the DBG Lab Manager! Simone will be joining the University of Miami as a Senior Research Lab Manager. Congrats, Simone! You will be missed! 

 

 

   [### The DBG Welcomes Kuljeet Kaur!

 ](/news/2025/09/dbg-welcomes-kuljeet-kaur) September 04, 2025 

 The DBG would like to welcome Dr. Kuljeet Kaur as our new Lab Manager. Kuljeet joins us from Dr. Alcaide's Lab at Tufts University where she studied the role of inflammation on cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy during the progression of heart failure... 

 

 

   [### John F. Zimmerman Appointed as Assistant Professor

 ](/news/2025/07/john-f-zimmerman-appointed-assistant-professor) July 01, 2025 

 The DBG would like to extend our congratulations to DBG alum John F. Zimmerman for their appointment as an Assistant Professor at Cornell University, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. 

 

 

   [### The DBG Congratulates Dr. Michael Peters!

 ](/news/2025/06/dbg-congratulates-dr-michael-peters) June 01, 2025 

 The DBG would like to extend our congratulations to DBG member Michael Peters for the completion of their PhD program! Michael has been promoted to Postdoctoral Fellow as he continues to work with the DBG.