Farid Alisafaei

Dr. Farid Alisafaei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He leads the Mechanobiology-Based Biomedical Engineering (MBBM) Lab, focusing on understanding how mechanical forces influence physiological and pathological processes. His research integrates computational and experimental approaches to study cellular responses to extracellular matrix changes in diseases like fibrosis and cancer, as well as wound healing and stem cell migration.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wyoming (2015)
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan (2010)
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan (2007)

Research Interests: Dr. Alisafaei’s work spans mechanobiology, cellular mechanics, and biomaterials. He investigates how physical changes in tissues (e.g., stiffness, anisotropy) affect cellular behavior, with applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling. Key topics include extracellular matrix mechanics, mechanosensing pathways, and therapeutic interventions targeting fibrotic diseases.

Awards:

• NIH Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award (T32), 2018–2020
• NSF Center for Engineering Mechanobiology Fellowship, 2016–2018
• NASA Space Grant Graduate Assistantship, 2013

Advising & Grants: Dr. Alisafaei mentors Ph.D. students in mechanobiology and collaborates with industry on translational research. His lab actively seeks candidates for Ph.D. positions (visit MBBM-Lab.com). Research funding includes NIH and NSF grants focused on mechanobiological mechanisms.

Labs & Teams: The MBBM Lab operates at NJIT, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to solve biomedical challenges. Collaborations involve engineers, biologists, and clinicians to advance mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development.