Bahareh Behkam

Bahareh Behkam, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering, holds joint appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Health Sciences. She serves as a John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow, leading the NanoRobotics Laboratory, and is affiliated with the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Macromolecules Innovation Institute, and School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences.

• Carnegie Mellon University, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2008)
• Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (2003)
• Sharif University of Technology, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1999)

Her research focuses on micro/nanoscale systems engineering for biomedical applications, including:

• Biohybrid microrobotic systems for cancer therapy
• Interfacial mechanics of pathogen-biomaterial interactions
• Mechanobiology of microbial infections
• Mammalian cell migration in complex environments

Recent publications highlight advancements in bacterial propulsion systems, autonomous drug delivery, and deep learning-based microrobot tracking. Her work spans biomedical imaging, tumor targeting, and mechanobiology.

Scientific Awards

• 2023 Emerging Leaders in Biological Engineering
• 2021 Favorite Faculty Award (Virginia Tech)
• 2020 John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow
• 2015 NSF CAREER Award
• 2014 National Academies Keck Frontiers Initiative

Dr. Behkam's lab develops biohybrid microrobots and nanoscale delivery systems (NanoBEADS) while exploring bacterial chemotaxis and mechanobiology. She actively mentors students in interdisciplinary research.