How to Lead a Strong BIOE/ BME Department Webinar

Adam J. Engler is a Professor and Chair of the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department 
of Bioengineering at UC San Diego, where he has been on the faculty since 2008. Dr. Engler is also holds the Kenneth Bowles Endowed Chair and a resident 
scientist at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. Prior to starting his independent career, Dr. Engler was awarded his PhD from the University of 
Pennsylvania and performed postdoctoral training at Princeton University. 

Dr. Engler has published more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his 
seminal work has shown how physical and chemical properties of the extracellular 
matrix influence or misregulate cell function and modify genetic mechanisms of disease. His lab currently studies this phenomenon in the context of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. 

Dr. Engler has received numerous awards in recognition of this research, including  young investigator or mid-career awards from International Society for Matrix Biology (2008), Biomedical Engineering Society (2008 and 2023), American  Society of Matrix Biology (2014), American Society of Mechanical Engineering  (2015), and American Society for Engineering Education (2018). Dr. Engler is a NIH New Innovator Award grantee (2009) and is a Fellow of the American Institute  for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (2018), the Biomedical Engineering  Society (2021), and the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (2024)

Bryan Pfister received his PhD in Material Science and Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 2002 and did his post-doctoral study in the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania. He joined the NJIT Biomedical Engineering Department in January 2006 where he has served as Department Chair for the past 10 years. Dr. Pfister’s research encompasses how mechanical forces affect the nervous system - developing new approaches answering long standing questions on the critical role of biomechanical loads on the growth of neurons to the pathogenesis of blast and brunt traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at molecular, cellular and systemic scales. Through novel bioreactor design and biomechanical based methods, his team demonstrated that axon stretch-growth is strain limited and regulates gene transcription distinct from known regenerative associated genes. As director, the Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine focuses on the biomechanics of brain injury from blunt and blast injuries using both animate models and full scale inanimate models of the human brain. He has introduced innovative TBI in vitro and animal models that can precisely control the biomechanical loading parameters. These remain unique models that can independently control the rate, magnitude and impulse of injury. His work has a great impact by linking the rate and impulse of load to the induction and progression of neuronal injury. He has been funded by the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Congressional Directed Medical Research Programs and the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research. Dr. Pfister maintains a diverse research group of students at all levels training together from undergraduate to postdoctoral scientists. He focuses on the inclusion of students with disabilities and is proud of consistently providing extracurricular experiences at the undergraduate level including directing an undergraduate research training program, the U-RISE at NJIT, an NIH T34 program.

Shayn Peirce-Cottler, Ph.D. is Harrison Distinguished Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering, with secondary appointments in the Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Virginia (UVA). Dr. Peirce-Cottler received Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from The Johns Hopkins University in 1997. She earned her Ph.D. in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia in 2002. Dr. Peirce-Cottler develops computational models and combines them with wet lab experiments to study how tissues heal after injury and to develop therapies for inducing tissue regeneration. She teaches courses in cell and molecular physiology and computational systems bioengineering to undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Peirce-Cottler has published over 150 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and she is an inventor on three U.S. Patents. She is a fellow in both the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows (AIMBE) and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). She is also Past-President of The Microcirculatory Society and the recipient of the 2024 Eugene M. Landis Award for Microvascular Research. Dr. Peirce-Cottler is a UVA School of Medicine Pinn Scholar, and in 2020 she was awarded the UVA School of Medicine’s Robert H. Kader Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring. Dr. Peirce-Cottler is passionate about mentoring students and early-career faculty and participating in K-12 outreach to increase students’ interest and self-confidence in pursuing STEM careers.