About
Dr. Thomas Bifano is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Boston University Photonics Center. He holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Electrical & Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on MEMS technologies, adaptive optics, and biomedical imaging applications. Dr. Bifano leads interdisciplinary initiatives in photonics, including commercialization of deformable mirrors via Boston Micromachines Corporation. He directs the Neurophotonics Research Training Grant and participates in the NSF Engineering Research Center on Cellular Metamaterials (CELL MET). His lab develops optical instruments for microscopy and telescope instrumentation, emphasizing light control through deformable mirrors. Recent work includes engineered heart tissue studies and high-throughput cardiac tissue screening.
Education: PhD from North Carolina State University. Key Roles: Former Chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Department (1999-2006). Affiliations: Photonics & Optical Systems, Neuroscience & Neuroengineering. Grants & Collaborations: NSF CELL MET, BU Photonics Center innovation programs. Facilities: Manages state-of-the-art shared labs and a business innovation center at the Photonics Center.
