Joshua Brockman

Dr. Joshua Brockman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he joined in 2023 as part of the new faculty cohort. His research focuses on the intersection of mechanics and immunology, particularly how physical forces influence T-cell activation and function in cancer immunotherapy.

Education:

• PhD in Biomedical Engineering (2020) - Georgia Institute of Technology
• BS in Biomedical Engineering (2014) - Ohio State University

Research Focus: Dr. Brockman's laboratory investigates mechano-immunology, specifically how mechanical forces modulate immune cell behavior. His work spans from fundamental studies of T-cell receptor mechanotransduction to translational applications in CAR-T cell therapy and biomaterial design. Key research areas include:

• Mechanical regulation of T-cell activation and function
• Engineering biomaterial scaffolds for enhanced T-cell therapy
• CAR-T cell engineering and optimization
• Extracellular matrix mechanics in immune responses

Research Trends: His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward enhancing cancer immunotherapy through mechanobiological insights. The work consistently integrates engineering principles with immunological applications, particularly focusing on improving CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumors through biomaterial scaffolds and mechanical force optimization.

Scientific Awards:

• Excellence in Fundamental Research Award (2019) - Georgia Tech BME Department
• NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellowship (F99/K00) (2018) - National Cancer Institute
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2015) - National Science Foundation

Teaching and Mentorship: Dr. Brockman is actively involved in teaching multiple courses including BME 301 (Biomedical Engineering Design and Communication), BME 545 (Engineering Extracellular Matrices), and various research and thesis courses, indicating his commitment to both undergraduate and graduate education in biomedical engineering.