Qi Wen

Qi Wen is an Associate Professor of Physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), affiliated with the Biomedical Engineering and Bioinformatics & Computational Biology departments. He leads the Cellular Biophysics Lab and focuses on applying physical methods to study biological phenomena, particularly cell mechanics and mechanotransduction. His research explores how cells convert mechanical signals into biochemical responses, with applications in wound healing, tissue engineering, and cancer treatment.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Physics, Lanzhou University (1998)
• Master of Engineering in Physics, Lanzhou University (2001)
• Master of Science, Brown University (2005)
• Doctorate in Physics, Brown University (2007)

Research Interests: Professor Wen investigates mechanobiology, cell-ECM interactions, biomaterials, and atomic force microscopy. His work bridges physics and biomedical engineering, with a focus on understanding how mechanical forces influence cellular behavior and disease processes. Key topics include mechanosensing pathways in cancer cells, the role of vimentin in cell mechanics, and the design of biomaterials for therapeutic applications.

Labs & Teams: The Cellular Biophysics Lab at WPI is central to his research, employing cutting-edge techniques like fiber optical tweezers and microfluidic devices. His team includes students from Physics and Biomedical Engineering, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Teaching & Mentorship: Professor Wen teaches physics courses across undergraduate and graduate levels, emphasizing the relevance of physics to engineering and biomedicine. He actively mentors students, aiming to inspire their curiosity in both fundamental and applied science.