معرفی
Michael L. Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, with joint appointments in Materials Science & Engineering and affiliation with the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program. His research focuses on mechanotransduction via the extracellular matrix, particularly fibronectin mechanics, and engineered cell culture platforms.
Education includes:
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia
- M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Memphis
Research interests include:
- Quantifying microenvironmental regulation of cell fate
- Fibronectin tension and cell signaling mechanisms
- Engineering culture environments for ECM control
His publications predominantly explore cell-matrix interactions across biological scales, with recent work focusing on cancer cell mechanics, tensile homeostasis, and extracellular matrix assembly.
Awards and honors:
- NSF CAREER Award (2012–2017)
- Member of American Society for Matrix Biology
- Member of Biomedical Engineering Society
- Member of Materials Research Society
Leads the Matrix Mechanotransduction Lab investigating fundamental mechanisms of cellular mechanosensing.
