Research Interests
- Cartilage and joint biomechanics
- Medical robotics
- Mechanical product design
Education
- B.S. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2026
About
Serdar is from Newburgh, NY, and is deeply interested in biomechanics. He is passionate about helping people with osteoarthritis and other mobility-reducing conditions through medical device design and robotics. He is excited to use skills gained from mechanical engineering classes to research in the MBL.
In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors, specifically running and backpacking. He also loves cooking and baking with family and friends.
Research Interests
- Medical device design
- Translational research
- Cartilage biomechanics
- Women’s health
Education
- B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024
Awards
- National Science Foundation GRFP Fellow, 2024
About
Sarah is originally from Atlanta, GA and received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech (go Jackets!). She has experience with the Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls (EPIC) Lab at Georgia Tech and additionally completed a co-op program with the orthopedic medical devices company Enovis Foot and Ankle, which inspired her passion for biomechanics. She joined MBL as a M.S./Ph.D. student in Fall 2024. Combined with her passion for improving women’s health, Sarah aims to leverage biomechanics to research conditions which disproportionately impact women.
Sarah loves the outdoors and spending her time in the parks around Columbia, especially after spending Summer 2024 working in Montana near Yellowstone National Park. She also enjoys running/ lifting weights, cooking and trying new foods, reading a variety of books, and exploring local coffeeshops.
Research Interests
- Osteoarthritis treatment
- Cartilage biomechanics
- Computational modeling
- Software development
Education
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, The Cooper Union, 2022
About
Research Interests
- Energy and Environment
- Heat Transfer Phenomenon
- Continuum Mechanics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Sustainability
Education
B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India, 2024
About
Neelansh is passionate about Energy, Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics with a particular focus on the dynamics of flow and heat transfer processes. His research explores the intricate behavior of temperature at phase change interfaces, specifically challenging the traditional assumptions about temperature jumps during phase transitions. Neelansh joined as an MS Student at MBL and has designed and built a specialized apparatus to investigate these phenomena and refine existing models. His work aims to improve heat transfer predictions, which have applications in energy efficiency, thermal management, and sustainable technology.
Outside the lab, Neelansh enjoys spending time in nature and pursuing archery. He has a deep appreciation for music and the arts, often visiting museums and cultural events to nurture his creativity.
Research Interests
- Articular cartilage wear and damage
- Treatment of osteoarthritis
- Cartilage biomechanics
- Medical device design
Education
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 2022
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2024
About
Haoyu is deeply passionate about biomechanics and joined the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab to study the mechanical behavior of biological tissues. His research focuses on cartilage biomechanics, particularly the mechanisms of wear, fatigue damage, and failure in articular cartilage, as well as strategies to prevent or treat osteoarthritis. His recent work investigates how synovial fluid protects cartilage from mechanical damage under cyclical loading, helping to clarify the fundamental mechanisms that maintain joint health.
Currently, his primary project involves developing a 3D-printed biological knee joint designed to restore function in severely damaged joints. This approach aims to create living, functional replacements that integrate with the body, offering a potential alternative to traditional joint replacement implants.
Beyond research, Haoyu enjoys staying active through sports, including tennis, badminton, squash, golf, and ping pong.
Education
- B.S. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 1986
- M.S. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 1987
- M.Phil. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 1990
- Ph.D. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 1991
Active Areas of Research
- Theoretical and experimental analysis of articular cartilage mechanics
- Theoretical and experimental analysis of cartilage lubrication
- Growth and remodeling of biological tissues
- Cell mechanics
- Mixture theory for biological tissues: Theory, experiments, and computational analysis
- Thermodynamics
- Computational fluid and solid mechanics
Past Areas of Research
- Stereophotogrammetry, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography techniques for reconstruction of musculoskeletal anatomy
- Geometric modeling, surface-fitting, and curvature analysis of diarthrodial joint articular surfaces
- Experimental determination of diarthrodial joint kinematics and contact
- Modeling of diarthrodial joints
- Biomechanics of the knee, shoulder, and hand
- Computer-aided surgical planning
- Cartilage tissue engineering and bioreactor design
Gerard Ateshian's research combines theoretical, computational, and experimental methods to address the biomechanics of biological soft tissues and cells. His initial focus of research addressed the biomechanics of diarthrodial joints, including the measurement and analysis of their kinematics and contact mechanics, and the quantitative assessment of articular surface topgraphy and cartilage thickness. These studies were followed by the investigation of cartilage mechanics, with a focus on the disparity between the tensile and compressive properties of this tissue, and the pressurization of its interstitial fluid under loading. Direct measurements of this interstitial fluid pressure brough new insights and evidence with regard to cartilage lubrication, which became a major topic of investigation in the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory.
Since 1996, Prof. Ateshian has established a close collaboration with Professor Clark T. Hung in the area of cartilage tissue engineering. This highly fruitful collaboration has led to important breakthroughs in this field, with notable advances in the understanding of the role of mechanical loading in engineered cartilage growth and development. This collaborative effort has also extended to the fields of solute transport in loaded tissues and tissue constructs, and cell mechanics, producing insights into the cell's mechano-electrochemical environment and its response to mechanical and osmotic loading.
Prof. Ateshian has also invested significant efforts in the modeling of biological tissues and cells using Mixture Theory. He has placed a particular effort in understanding the role of chemical reactions in mixtures, to address important challenges such as the modeling of tissue growth, and active transport processes.
Insights gained from these studies have led to other stimulating collaborations, with Professor Kevin D. Costa in the investigation of the role of proteoglycans in vascular wall mechanics, and with Professor David Elad in the area of oocyte mechanics.
To promote greater dissemination of these theoretical advances in the modeling of biological tissues, Prof. Ateshian has established a close collaboration with Professor Jeffrey A. Weiss of the University of Utah. In an effort involving several members of Columbia's Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory and Utah's Musculoskeletal Research Laboratories, these investigators are developing a free, open source, finite element program to model mechanics and transport in tissues and cells.
Research Interests
Biomechanics
Mechanical product design
Education
B.S. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2027
About
Cheery is from Portland, OR, and is interested in all things that require designing, prototyping, and testing. She is passionate about physical activity and is excited to research solutions to alleviate joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.
In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, rock climbing, drawing, and listening to music.
Education
- B.S. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
Research Interests
- Cartilage Biomechanics
- Translational Research
- Computational Modeling
- Women’s Health
Education
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Bioengineering, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, 2025
About
Angelica is originally from Brooklyn, NY, and received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Cooper Union. She joined MBL as an M.S./Ph.D. student in Fall 2025.
She has experience in Intervertebral Disc Biomechanics from her time with the Orthopaedic Research Laboratories (ORL) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which solidified her passion for biomechanics. Additionally, she completed a fellowship with Cornell Tech in AI and Machine Learning, exploring LLMs in the medical field with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital.
Combining her passion for computational modeling and translational research, Angelica aims to leverage her experience with modeling as a tool to further experimental findings in sex-difference biomechanics.
Angelica enjoys hiking and spending her time outside of New York City in nature. She also enjoys bouldering/ lifting weights, and exploring music through attending concerts and playing the piano.
Research Interests:
- Mechanical testing and experiment design
- Biomechanics and tissue mechanics
- Data analysis
Education
- B.S. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
About
Samad, from Houston, Texas, is passionate about applying mechanical engineering to advance both human life and technology. His experience spans electric vehicle design with Columbia’s Formula Racing Team, software development and hardware engineering at Qawl and General Motors, and mechanical testing and data analysis here at the MBL. Driven by a deep curiosity for how theory translates into impact, he is eager to apply the principles he’s learned both inside and outside the lab to innovative, human-centered engineering challenges.
Current Members
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