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
- Osteoarthritis treatment
- Mechanical properties of cartilage tissue
- Interface mechanics
- Collagen crosslinking
- Finite element modeling of biological tissues
Education
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 2019
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2021
Awards
- Columbia University Presidential Fellowship, 2019
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention, 2020
About
Originally from Yorktown Heights, NY, Kim conducted undergraduate research at Boston University in the Growth Factor Mechanobiology Laboratory, studying the use of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for early stage osteoarthritis. It was this work which motivated her to pursue a research career in biomechanics and join MBL in the Fall of 2019 as an MS-Ph.D student in mechanical engineering. At MBL her work focuses on using collagen crosslinking as a technique for cartilage repair and regeneration, and incorporates computational modeling to better understand the articular cartilage mechanics.
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 has a deep passion for biomechanics, which led him to join the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab. His research focuses on cartilage biomechanics, the wear and damage of articular cartilage, and the treatment of osteoarthritis. Currently, his primary project involves developing a 3D-printed biological knee joint that could serve as a final procedure for severely damaged joints, offering a potential alternative to traditional joint replacement. Beyond his academic pursuits, Haoyu enjoys various 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
- Medical device design
- Biomechanics and robotics
Education
- B.S. candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2026
About
Originally from the Bay Area, California, Cole joined the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab in the Fall of 2024. With experience ranging from a summer internship at a therapeutics company, where he gained insights in optics, automation, and using Python to control and automate experiments, data collection, and analysis to robotics experience from working in the Creative Machines Lab, Cole is excited to contribute to the exciting research the lab does!In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, 3D modeling and animation, embroidery, crafts, and powerlifting.
Education
- B.S. Candidate Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
Current Members
Profiles, showing -