معرفی
Sandra J. Shefelbine is an Associate Dean of Space and Special Initiatives in the Office of the Dean at Northeastern University's College of Engineering. She holds dual professorships in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering. Her research focuses on multi-scale bone biomechanics and mechano-adaptation mechanisms, with particular emphasis on how mechanical signals influence bone and joint development. She leads the Shefelbine Lab, which integrates experimental, computational, and engineering approaches to study skeletal tissues across multiple scales.
- Education: PhD (2002) Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University; MPhil (1998) Engineering Design, Cambridge University; BSE (1997) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
- Affiliations: Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems; Institute for Mechanobiology
Research Interests
Her work explores bone's hierarchical structure and mechano-adaptive responses, including:
- Musculoskeletal Mechanoadaptation: Bone's response to mechanical loading through cellular signaling pathways.
- Advanced Technologies: Developing novel imaging and computational tools (e.g., BoneJ open-source software).
- Multiscale Mechanics: Linking molecular-level changes to macroscopic mechanical properties in bone and cartilage.
Awards
- 2020 Fulbright Futures Scholarship
- American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineers Fellow (2020)
- Imperial College London Rector’s Medal for Teaching Excellence (2011)
Research Projects & Grants
Her lab leads NSF-funded projects on:
- In Vivo Mechanotransduction During Limb Growth
- Manipulating Fluid Flow in Bone Adaptation
- Joint Morphogenesis in Axolotl Limb Regeneration
The lab also collaborates on biomechanical studies of aging, obesity, and regenerative medicine. Contact: s.shefelbine@northeastern.edu, 617-373-3199
