Catherine Safran

Catherine Safran is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology at Widener University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of Strasbourg (France). Her research focuses on peer-mentoring in scientific education and skeletal growth mechanisms, collaborating with Dr. Liyun Wang (University of Delaware). She has received awards including the HAPS John Martin Second Timers Award, Widener’s Teaching Excellence Award, and the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society Travel Award. Her work bridges educational pedagogy and musculoskeletal biology, emphasizing student equity and hands-on learning.

• PhD: Developmental Biology, University of Strasbourg (1994)

Research interests include peer-mentoring’s impact on student success and the role of pericellular matrix in bone responses. She explores cell signaling pathways and biomechanical processes in bone repair. Her publications address pandemic-era teaching challenges and bone mechanotransduction. She advocates for inclusive A&P learning communities and has presented at international conferences. Grants include peer-mentoring initiatives and pedagogical travel funding.

Awards also include Widener’s Improvement of Teaching Grant (2020–2021) and recognition as a Northeast Summer Institute Scientific Teaching Fellow (2017).