Zhen Ma

Dr. Zhen Ma is an Associate Professor and Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University. As Graduate Program Director, they oversee academic and research programs. Their work focuses on stem cell engineering, cardiac tissue regeneration, and 3D organoid technologies for studying heart diseases and drug development.

Education:

• Ph.D., Clemson University
• M.S. & B.S., Tianjin University
• Postdoctoral Training, University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests: Dr. Ma develops multi-scale cardiac models combining stem cell biology, micro/nanotechnology, and cardiovascular research. Key areas include hiPSC-based disease modeling, cardiac organoid engineering for toxicity testing, and mechanistic studies of heart development. Their work bridges fundamental science and translational medicine, aiming to improve diagnostics and therapies for heart diseases.

Publications: Recent works focus on drug toxicity prediction using machine learning, nano-topography effects on cardiomyocytes, and spatially organized cardiac organoids for developmental toxicity testing. These studies highlight advancements in in vitro models for personalized medicine.

Awards:

• Rising Stars Award (BMES)
• NSF CAREER Award
• Lush Prize Young Researcher (Americas)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Ma leads research teams in stem cell engineering and cardiac tissue modeling. Their NSF CAREER Award supports interdisciplinary research at the interface of engineering and biology. Collaborations focus on translational applications of organoid technologies.