Steven W. Day

Dr. Steven W. Day serves as Associate Professor and Department Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He joined the RIT faculty in 2005 after completing his educational journey that included a B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and a diploma from the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Belgium.

Dr. Day's educational background includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia, as well as specialized training at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Belgium. This interdisciplinary foundation has enabled his unique approach to biomedical engineering challenges.

His primary research focuses on biomedical fluid mechanics with three major thrusts: 1) developing magnetically levitated implantable blood pumps with ultra-low shear stresses to reduce hemolysis and thrombosis; 2) investigating the biomechanics of suction feeding in fish to understand complex fluid-structure interactions; and 3) validating computational fluid dynamics models for cardiovascular devices in collaboration with the FDA's Critical Path Initiative. His work bridges engineering principles with biological applications, often involving collaborations with biologists, medical doctors, and industry partners.

Dr. Day's publication record shows a consistent trajectory of impactful research, with recent work focusing on blood viscosity effects on hemolysis, biomimetic skin phantoms for wearable electrodes, and airflow sensitivity in lung conditions. His research demonstrates strong connections between fundamental fluid mechanics principles and practical biomedical applications.

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funding for chronic animal testing of LEV-VAD blood pump
• Participation in RIT's interdisciplinary microplastics research team ($10 million funding since 2020)
• Spearheading $7.3 million research hub studying microplastics in Great Lakes ecosystem

Dr. Day actively mentors numerous graduate students through his Biological Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, with current PhD candidates investigating microfluidic oxygenators, magnetic systems for blood pumps, and thrombosis prediction. His teaching includes specialized courses like BIME-395/396 on Biomedical Instrument Repair & Maintenance for Engineering World Health, which prepares students for international medical equipment repair work in developing countries. He also guides multidisciplinary senior design teams and involves both undergraduate and graduate students in his research projects.

His laboratory has established strong connections with industry partners and medical institutions, creating a pipeline for students to pursue careers in biomedical engineering. The collaborative nature of his work extends to evolutionary biologists at UC Davis and medical professionals at the Mayo Clinic.