Samira Azarin

Samira Azarin is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. Her research integrates biomaterials, cellular engineering, and stem cell biology to address critical challenges in cancer treatment and neurological disorders.

Her primary research focuses include:

• Mechanisms of tumor progression and metastatic cancer treatment
• Biomanufacturing of natural killer (NK) cells for allogeneic cancer immunotherapy
• Stem cell-derived models of blood-brain barrier and intestinal epithelial barriers
• Cellular dormancy mechanisms and therapeutic applications
• Biomaterial scaffolds for in vivo cancer cell capture

Recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate strong trends in cancer immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on NK cell biomanufacturing and electroporation-based in-situ vaccination strategies. Her work increasingly incorporates advanced biomaterial platforms for physiological barrier modeling and metastasis prevention, reflecting a translational focus on moving from fundamental mechanisms to therapeutic applications.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Editor's Choice article in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (2020)
• Editor's Choice article in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (2016)
• Editor's Award for Biology in International Journal of Hyperthermia (2019)

Dr. Azarin has successfully mentored 23 graduate students to completion (2019-2024), with alumni placements at major pharmaceutical companies including Merck, AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, and 3M. Her lab emphasizes collaborative, equitable, and inclusive scientific development, with research supported by significant NIH and industry funding for NK cell biomanufacturing, metastasis modeling, and blood-brain barrier restoration.

The Azarin Research Group maintains an active collaborative environment focused on quantitative biological analysis combined with tissue engineering approaches, regularly participating in events like the Cellular Bioprocess Technology short course and maintaining strong industry partnerships for therapeutic translation.