Janet Zoldan

Janet Zoldan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, supported by the William J. Murray, Jr. Fellowship in Engineering No. 3. Her research focuses on biomaterials and cell engineering, particularly using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study tissue formation and address diseases like diabetes and heart failure. She leads the Zoldan Group, advancing hydrogel-based systems for cardiac pacing, vascular network engineering, and drug delivery platforms.

Her work integrates materials science, cell biology, and engineering to create 3D models of human tissues, emphasizing hydrogel design, light-responsive materials, and microfluidic technologies. Key innovations include electrospun fiber mats for cell alignment, NIR-responsive drug delivery systems, and barcoding techniques for tracking stem cell lineages.

• Awards: Member of the Academy of Distinguished Biomedical Engineers
• Key Technologies: 3D bioprinting, cell squeezing platforms, and microRNA delivery systems
• Labs/Teams: Zoldan Group (specializing in biomaterials, iPSC applications, and vascular engineering)

Her research addresses critical challenges in regenerative medicine, including improving stem cell differentiation efficiency, modeling disease pathophysiology, and developing scalable therapeutic platforms. Ongoing efforts explore sex-based differences in cardiovascular models and the biomechanical influences on SARS-CoV-2 infections.