Tiago Fernandes

Tiago Fernandes is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, and a Research Scientist at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences. His research focuses on integrating engineering principles with stem cell biology to develop artificial microenvironments for studying pluripotency and organogenesis. He has held visiting roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020) and completed postdoctoral training at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006-2008). His work emphasizes organoid engineering, particularly cerebellar and forebrain organoids, and has contributed to scalable production methods for neural and hepatic cell lineages.

Education includes a PhD in Biotechnology (IST, 2009), a Diploma in Biological Engineering (IST, 2004), and postdoctoral training in the U.S. His research spans stem cell fate modulation, neural vascular unit formation, and systems bioengineering approaches to developmental toxicity. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles and edited two books, with notable recognition including the Malcolm Lilly Award (2008).

• Key research areas: Stem cell microenvironments, organoid-based disease modeling, bioassembly, and regenerative medicine
• Grants and collaborations: Focus on translational bioengineering and clinical applications
• Labs/teams: Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (IBB), SCERG research group

Scientific awards include the prestigious Malcolm Lilly Award for contributions to bioprocessing engineering. His work bridges stem cell biology with engineering to advance tissue regeneration and drug screening platforms.