Bo Sun

Bo Sun is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Oregon State University's College of Science. His research focuses on the biophysics of cellular collective behaviors, particularly in cancer invasion and cell signaling. He leads a dynamic research group that employs advanced imaging and microfabrication techniques to study cell mechanics and dynamics in 3D environments.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physics from New York University (2010) and a B.S. from Tsinghua University (2003).

Professor Sun's research examines statistical physics of cell signaling, cell mechanics, and collective cancer invasion. His work investigates how cells sense mechanical and chemical cues in extracellular matrices, with implications for understanding metastasis and developing tissue engineering strategies. Key areas include neuron calcium dynamics synchronization and cancer cell navigation through complex microenvironments.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on 3D cancer migration mechanics, extracellular matrix remodeling, and computational modeling of multicellular networks. His group pioneered techniques for ECM microstructure patterning and dual mechanochemical guidance studies, establishing foundational insights into collective invasion geometry and force network dynamics.

His scientific achievements include:

• NSF CAREER award (2019) for collective cellular mechanosensing research
• Richard T. Jones award from the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon (2019)
• SciRIS-ii award from the College of Science (2023) for 4D tissue programming

Professor Sun has mentored 7 graduate students to completion (6 PhD, 1 Master's) and numerous undergraduates through SURE, REEU, and URSA programs. His research is funded by competitive grants including an NIH R01, NSF grant with University of Arkansas, DOD award, and HP seed funding for spatial biology technology.

He directs the Sun Research Group, a multidisciplinary team investigating cellular collective behaviors through biophysical experiments and computational modeling. The lab maintains active collaborations with biologists and engineers, with recent work focusing on force fluctuations in tumor microenvironments and 4D tissue construct programming.