Ritu Raman

Ritu Raman is the Eugene Bell Career Development Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She leads the Raman Lab, focused on 4D tissue engineering of neuromuscular systems for applications in regenerative medicine and biohybrid robotics. Her research develops adaptive biological materials powered by living cells, with particular emphasis on creating innervated and vascularized muscle actuators.

Education:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2016)
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013)
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University (2012)

Her research integrates biofabrication, neuromuscular tissue engineering, and soft robotics to create biological machines that can restore mobility after injury and power sustainable robots. Current work focuses on: 1) Mechanistic studies of neuromuscular disease, 2) 4D biofabrication tools for dynamic tissue assembly, and 3) Deployment of neuromuscular tissues as responsive actuators.

Her publications demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach spanning biofabrication, biomechanics, robotics, and biomaterials. Recent work focuses on biohybrid systems, muscle actuator optimization, and advanced bioprinting techniques.

Awards and Honors:

• Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE) 2025
• NSF CAREER Award 2023
• MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (2019)
• Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science (2018)
• Multiple Young Investigator Awards (ONR, ARO)

She leads the Raman Lab at MIT, where her team develops novel biofabrication platforms and conducts translational research. The lab collaborates extensively across engineering and biology disciplines to advance tissue engineering and biohybrid robotics.