Andrea Vernengo

Andrea Vernengo is Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rowan University, directing the PhD training program in chemical engineering and sustainability. Her research develops temperature-responsive hydrogels for spinal disc regeneration and stem cell therapies. Vernengo's work bridges biomaterials science with regenerative medicine applications.

Education includes a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University and BS from University of Maryland.

Research focuses on:

• Injectable thermogels for minimally invasive disc repair
• Mesenchymal stem cell expansion and secretome production
• 3D bioprinted tissue models for cancer research

Recent publications demonstrate innovations in combinatorial hydrogel systems for ovine disc repair and iPSC-derived tendon regeneration. Article clusters cover biomaterials development (50%), regenerative applications (30%), and engineering education (20%).

Leads Rowan REACTS training program for underrepresented PhD students. Collaborates with European partners on functional biomaterials through Horizon Europe grants.