Carla Lacerda

Dr. Carla Lacerda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler, part of the Whitacre College of Engineering. Her research focuses on developing in vitro models to study biomechanics and mechanobiology of cardiovascular tissues using 3D bioprinting, mechanical stimulation reactors, and omics technologies. She teaches courses such as CHEN 4310 (Separation Processes), CHEN 4330 (Process Control and Safety), and CHEN 4340 (Chemical Reaction Engineering).

Her awards include the NIH PRIDE Fellowship (2022/2023), Whitacre College’s Burford Faculty Award (2021), and Air Force Research Lab Summer Fellowship (2020). Ongoing projects include bioprinting aortic valve conduits, pressurized devices for hypertension studies, and multi-omics analyses for disease signatures.

Recent publications span biomaterials (e.g., antibacterial graphene composites), cardiovascular biomechanics (valvular cell responses to shear stress), and drug discovery for valvular diseases. Her lab integrates engineering principles with biological systems to address translational challenges in regenerative medicine.