News

Professor Qin Collaborates with MIT to Study Fatigue Resistant Hydrogels

For years, scientists have been interested in the potential of hydrogels in biomedical and engineering applications. Hydrogels often contain more than 90 percent water and a small percentage of synthetic polymer and are used in a variety of uses from medical electrodes, tissue engineering and dressings for hard to heal wounds.

“It is an interesting material since it is synthetic but can be bio-compatible since it is mostly water,” says Zhao Qin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “In particular, hydrogels are attractive for biomedical applications.” Continue Reading

M. Lisa Manning Named William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Physics, and awarded a three-year Simons Foundation grant

M. Lisa Manning, professor of physics and founding director of BioInspired Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, has been named the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Physics. This highly selective professorship was established in 1971 by a grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr., Charitable Trust. It honors the memory of Kenan, Jr., who devoted a lifetime to the advancement of higher education. Continue Reading

Professor Liviu Movileanu and Avinash Thakur Ph.D. presented their research on molecular “fishing”

Like finding a needle in a haystack, Liviu Movileanu can find a single molecule in blood. The new technology, developed by Movileanu and Avinash Thakur, has wide‐ranging applications from diagnostic tests to drug discovery. Liviu Movileanu, physics professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Avinash Thakur, a recent doctoral graduate, presented their research at the Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society on February 17 in San Diego, California. Continue Reading

Syracuse University and UC Berkeley Researchers Team Up to Develop 3D Human Heart Model Showing How Cardiac Cells Fail to Adapt to a Pathological Mechanical Environment

To better understand heart diseases, doctors and scientists are constantly trying to understand how cardiac tissue in the human heart is affected by its changing environment. Specifically, researchers have wanted to better understand how cardiac cells adjust themselves depending on the mechanical environment of the heart they are inside of. Some cardiac tissues adjust to the heterogeneous tissue mechanical environments, but studying this process is very difficult. Studying cardiac tissue inside a living person is extremely invasive and current cardiac tissue models outside the body often fail to demonstrate how cardiac cells adapt to the non-uniform changes. Continue Reading

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Zhen Ma Receives NSF CAREER Award

Scientists have long known that some people have stronger heart muscles than others and there are multiple factors that can contribute to heart muscle strength in adults including exercise, genetics and diet. Even with all we know, there are still many questions about the factors that influence the development of shape and function of a heart as an embryo forms—questions that Zhen Ma, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and his research team hope to answer. Continue Reading

Physics Professor Alison Patteson Uncovers ‘Cage’ of Proteins

Imagine you are reading a book and as you turn the page you suddenly feel a sharp pain from your finger – you have a papercut. You will probably just put on a Band-Aid™ and continue reading. Little do you know that your body has already gone into repair mode. Cells called fibroblasts are rushing to the wound site to begin the healing process. It’s a difficult journey for the cells as they pass through areas of dense tissue, but luckily the fibroblast cells have a form of protection called vimentin. New functions of this cage-like network within the cell were recently discovered by a team of scholars that included Alison Patteson, assistant professor of physics in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Continue Reading

Physics Department Earns Honors, Embodies Syracuse University’s Research Prowess

Two Syracuse University physicists have been named fellows of the American Physical Society (APS), the latest professional recognition highlighting the increasing visibility of the department’s faculty and research. Lisa Manning, professor of physics and founding director of the BioInspired Institute, and Christian Santangelo, professor of physics, earned the honor, given to just half of 1 percent of the professional organization’s membership. In addition, Jennifer Ross, professor of physics, was named an APS Fellow last year. The three are among 23 Syracuse APS Fellows since 1949. Continue Reading

Green Named AIAA Associate Fellow

Melissa Green, an associate professor at Syracuse University, has been named an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The prestigious title is awarded to those who have made notable and valuable contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics. Green will be officially inducted at the AIAA Associate Fellows Recognition Ceremony on January 6, 2020, at the AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida. Continue Reading

How Research Enhances Students’ Educational Experience

Syracuse University’s ranking as a top-tier research institutiondemonstrates a perpetual commitment to creating new, diverse knowledge. And, extraordinary research does much more than produce unique scientific insight. It also sparks remarkable educational experiences and outcomes for students in every discipline.

Associate Professor Shikha Nangia’s biomedical research group in the College of Engineering and Computer Science is a prime example. In 2015, Nangia received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award to study the blood-brain barrier which blocks toxins, as well as crucial medications, from entering the brain. Her research group, which includes undergraduate and graduate students alike, uses computer modeling to identify ways to open and close the blood-brain barrier to deliver medical treatment to the brain non-invasively. Continue Reading

BioInspired Institute Brings Together Faculty with Related Research Interests from Across the University

Hiring of faculty is underway for the newly named BioInspired Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems. BioInspired Syracuse (previously referred to as Bio-enabled Science and Technology) is one of the previously announced seven multidisciplinary research clusters that will bring together faculty scholars from multiple Syracuse University schools and colleges who have related research interests.

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