Krystyn J. Van Vliet is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Biological Engineering at Cornell University's College of Engineering. She serves as Vice President for Research and Innovation, overseeing research across the Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses, technology transfer, and more than 20 multidisciplinary research centers. Previously, she was Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Research at MIT, where she also held faculty appointments and earned her doctorate. Van Vliet's research focuses on the mechanobiology of cells and materials, particularly in the context of cell therapies, drug screening, and neurological disease modeling. Her work integrates materials science, engineering, and biology to develop innovative platforms such as artificial axons and microcarrier-based bioreactors. Key research areas include: Material chemomechanics at interfaces Biomechanics of oligodendrocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells 3D bioprinting and biomimetic neural systems Cell therapy manufacturing optimization Mechanotransduction in stem cell differentiation Her recent publications (2022–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on artificial axon platforms for myelination studies, microcarrier technologies for MSC expansion, and the role of mechanical cues in cell fate decisions. The articles reveal a consistent theme of engineering materials to probe and control biological processes, with applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery. Van Vliet has received notable recognition, including: Indefinite tenure at Cornell University (2024) Cornell’s Trailblazer in Higher Education by City & State New York (2024) Leadership of the National Academies’ decadal survey on biological and physical sciences in space Scientific co-founder of Artificial Axons Lab, an MIT startup She has advised numerous researchers and led large collaborative teams, including a 50+ member international effort on cell and gene therapies. Her administrative leadership includes overseeing MIT’s Office of Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer and managing pandemic-era research operations. She has secured significant funding, including an SISGR grant on chemomechanics of interfaces, and continues to expand Cornell’s innovation ecosystem through initiatives supporting hardware entrepreneurs and public-private partnerships. Her lab, though likely scaled back due to administrative duties, remains active in publishing high-impact research. Van Vliet is affiliated with several research entities: Artificial Axons Lab (co-founder) MIT-Singapore Research Collaboration on Cell and Gene Therapies National Academies Decadal Survey Committee Cornell’s multidisciplinary research centers and accelerators












