Anthony Lau

Anthony Lau is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in the School of Engineering, having served since 2015 with progressive promotions from Assistant to Full Professor. He holds leadership roles including Co-Director of Faculty-Student Collaboration (Fall 2024-Ongoing), Research Track Coordinator, and Committee Chair for the BME PRC, while representing TCNJ in the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium since Spring 2016.

Dr. Lau earned dual B.Sc. degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering from Duke University (2005), followed by a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia (2011).

His research centers on bone biomechanics and radiation effects, with three dominant streams:

• Radiation-induced skeletal changes (space radiation, proton exposure, and bone-cognitive deficit relationships)
• Disease impacts on bone (hemophilia, chronic kidney disease, estrogen deficiency, and osteoarthritis)
• Computational modeling of tissue mechanics (finite element analysis of cartilage, ribs, and bone strength)

Analysis of his 2011-2024 publications reveals consistent focus on skeletal mechanics, evolving from cartilage/rib studies (2011-2012) to current space radiation projects with NASA. Recent work emphasizes maternal/fetal bone effects (2023) and proton radiation mechanisms (2024), utilizing in vivo models and computational techniques.

Dr. Lau received the Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2014).

He actively mentors undergraduate researchers through the Lau Lab, including Calvin Okulicz, Rosalie Connell, Patricia Thomas (2021), and Jack Felipe, Michelle Meyers, Sabrina Vander Weile (2023). His grant portfolio features eight NASA awards since 2020, totaling over $250,000, with two major ongoing projects as PI: 'Effects of Acute and Protracted Proton Radiation on Bone Strength' (2023-2024) and 'Insights into neutron radiation exposure on maternal/fetal skeletal physiology' (2023-2024).

Dr. Lau leads the TCNJ Lau Lab conducting NASA-funded bone radiation research at Brookhaven National Labs. He coordinates the BME Research Track and Faculty-Student Collaboration initiative, with lab meetings documented for summer 2024 projects on space radiation effects.