Sarah Calve

Dr. Sarah Calve is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on the mechanics of soft biological materials, musculoskeletal development, and regeneration, with a particular emphasis on the extracellular matrix (ECM). She leads the Musculoskeletal Extracellular Matrix Laboratory (MEML), which develops novel techniques to visualize ECM architecture and quantify its mechanical properties in developing tissues.

Education:

• B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, 2000
• M.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 2005
• Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 2006

Research Interests: Dr. Calve’s work integrates biomechanics, biochemistry, and imaging to understand how ECM composition and mechanics influence musculoskeletal development. Key areas include:

• Development of bioorthogonal labeling strategies to track ECM proteins
• Optical clearing and 3D imaging of ECM architecture in mouse models
• Role of hyaluronic acid in muscle regeneration and repair
• Design of ECM-mimetic hydrogels for regenerative therapies

Awards:

• NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (2017)
• Rising Star Junior Faculty Award (2018)
• National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium Invitee (2018)

Advancing Research: Dr. Calve’s lab combines experimental and computational approaches to characterize ECM dynamics during development. Projects include collaborations on hyaluronic acid hydrogel design and NIH-funded studies on ECM remodeling. She holds two patents for muscle and tendon engineering methods.

Labs/Teams: The MEML collaborates with institutions like the University of Michigan and Northwestern University to advance regenerative therapies based on ECM insights.