Brandon Zimmerman

Current Position

Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests

  • Mechanoelectrochemical behaviors of cartilage
  • Mixture theory applied to soft biological tissues
  • Finite element contact mechanics
  • Articular cartilage friction and damage
  • Reactive constrained mixture theory
  • Inelastic material behavior: plasticity, fatigue, damage

Education

  • B.E. University of Delaware, Mechanical Engineering, 2014
  • M.S. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 2016
  • M.Phil. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 2018
  • Ph.D. Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, 2020

Awards

  • Columbia University H. Dean Baker Fellowship, 2018
  • Center for Teaching and Learning Lead Teaching Fellowship, 2017-2018
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2015   
  • Columbia University Presidential Fellowship, 2014

Originally from Lancaster, PA, Brandon did his undergraduate work at the University of Delaware, studying temporomandibular joint friction and mechanics. His research interests led him to join MBL in the fall of 2014 as a Ph.D. candidate, where his work focused on understanding the mechanically mediated progression of osteoarthritis in articular cartilage. He used experimental, theoretical, and computational methods to explore composition-structure-function relationships in cartilage to inform models of articular fatigue and damage mechanics.

In his spare time, Brandon enjoys running all over the island of Manhattan and wearing the shortest shorts in the lab.

In 2020, Brandon received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in Mechanical Engineering. 

Publications

Chen, D., Wu, J.Y., Kennedy, K.M., Yeager, K., Bernhard, J.C., Ng, J.J., Zimmerman, B.K., Robinson, S., Durney, K.M., Shaeffer, C., Vila, O.F., Takawira, C., Gimble, J.M., Guo, X.E., Ateshian, G.A., Lopez, M.J., Eisig, S.B., and Vunjak-Novakovic, G. 2020. Tissue engineered autologous cartilage-bone grafts for temporomandibular joint regeneration. Science Translational Medicine. Vol. 12, Issue 565.

Durney, K.M., Shaeffer, C.A., Zimmerman, B.K., Nims, R.J., Oungoulian, S., Jones, B.K., Boorman-Padgett, J.F., Suh, J.T., Shah, R.P., Hung, C.T., and Ateshian, G.A., 2020. Immature bovine cartilage wear by fatigue failure and delamination. J. Biomech, 107:109852

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2018. A surface-to-surface finite element algorithm for large deformation frictional contact in FEBio. J. Biomech. Eng., 140(8):081013-081013-15. Editor's Choice Paper (1 of 12 for 2018)

Zhao, W., Elias, A., Rajukumar, L., Kim, H., O'Brien, D., Zimmerman, B.K., Penev, E., Terrones, M., Yakobson, B., Wei, B., Lu, X.L., and Suhr, J., 2016. Controllable and predictable viscoelastic behavior of 3D boron-doped multiwalled carbon nanotube sponges. Part. Part. Syst. Charact., 33(1):21-26

Zimmerman, B.K., Bonnevie, E.D., Park, M., Zhou, Y., Wang, L., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2015. Role of interstitial fluid pressurization in TMJ lubrication. Journal of Dental Research, 94(1):85-92.

*Ruggiero, L., *Zimmerman, B.K., Park, M., Han, L., Wang, L., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2015. Roles of the fibrous superficial zone in the mechanical behavior of TMJ condylar cartilage. Ann. Biomed. Eng., 43(11):2652-2662

Chen, X., Zimmerman, B.K., and Lu, X.L., 2015. Determine the equilibrium mechanical properties of articular cartilage from the short-term indentation response. J. Biomech, 48(1):176-180

Moore, A.C., Zimmerman, B.K., Chen, X., Lu, X.L., and Burris, D.L., 2015. Experimental characterization of biphasic materials using rate-controlled Hertzian indentation. Trib. Int., 89:2-8

Jiang, D., Zimmerman, B.K., Bean, M.J., Maas, S.A., Jensen, M.O., Ateshian, G.A., and Timmins, L.H., 2020. Towards the establishment of lesion-specific stenting strategies: Validation of a coupled balloon-stent finite element framework for vascular stent deployment. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Online.

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2019. An energy-based theory of elastoplastic fatigue damage using reaction kinetics. 56th Annual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science. St. Louis, MO.

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2019. A three-dimensional rotationally nonsymmetric continuous fiber distribution for articular cartilage. 16th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. New York, NY.

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2019. An active remodeling approach to cartilage fatigue mechanics can predict experimental results. 16th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. New York, NY.

Zimmerman, B.K., Westervelt, A.R., Myers, K.M., and Ateshian, G.A., 2019. A finite element algorithm for evolving contact between bonded surfaces with implicit damage: application to premature funneling of fetal membranes. 16th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. New York, NY.

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2019. Plasticity and elasto-plastic damage mechanics using reactive constrained solid mixtures: A modeling approach for biomedical materials. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Seven Springs, PA. Student paper competition (PhD level) finalist.

Zimmerman, B.K. and Ateshian, G.A., 2018. Fatigue damage mechanics in articular cartilage via tissue remodelling: a reactive constrained mixture approach. 55th Annual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science. Madrid, Spain. 

Zimmerman, B.K., Durney, K.M., and Ateshian, G.A., 2018. A finite element algorithm for large deformation frictional contact of multiphasic materials with multiple neutral and charged solutes. 13th World Congress on Computational Mechanics. New York, NY. 

Zimmerman, B.K., Durney, K.M., Donde, S., Chen, A., Hung, C.T., and Ateshian, G.A., 2018. Theoretical and experimental foundations for investigating damage mechanics in articular cartilage. 8th World Congress of Biomechanics. Dublin, Ireland. 

Durney-Antonelli, K.M., Wang, C., Hou, C., Zimmerman, B.K., Sonar, S., Montegut, L., Bolene, M., Guan, K., Hung, C.T., Ateshian, G.A., and Vukelic, S., 2018. Novel laser treatment modality for crosslinking and strengthening early-stage osteoarthritic cartilage. 8th World Congress of Biomechanics. Dublin, Ireland. 

Zimmerman, B.K., Durney, K.M., and Ateshian, G.A., 2017. A finite element algorithm for large deformation frictional contact of biphasic materials with application to contact of articular cartilage in diarthrodial joints. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Tucson, AZ. 1st place, Student paper competition (PhD level).

Zimmerman, B.K., Nims, R.J., Hung, C.T., and Ateshian, G.A., 2016. Direct osmotic pressure measurements in articular cartilage demonstrate non-ideal and concentration-dependent phenomena. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. National Harbor, MD. Student paper competition (PhD level) finalist.

Zimmerman, B.K., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2014. Characterization of lubrication in the temporomandibular joint. 7th World Congress of Biomechanics. Boston, MA. Student paper competition (Bachelor's level) finalist.

Zimmerman, B.K., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2014. Efficacy of boundary lubricants on TMJ disc and condylar cartilage. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.

Zimmerman, B.K., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2013. Differing modes of lubrication for TMJ condylar cartilage and articular disc. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA.

Zimmerman, B.K., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2013. Interstitial fluid pressurization in lubrication of TMJ disc and condylar cartilage. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX.

Zimmerman, B.K., Bonnevie, E.D., Wang, L., Burris, D.L., and Lu, X.L., 2012. Friction coefficient and lubrication mechanism of TMJ disc and condylar cartilage. TMJ Bioengineering Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.