Cell, Tissue & Device Engineering Banner
Credit: Peter Allen

Research in cell, tissue & device engineering involves the derivation of new materials using biological components (or inspired by biological mechanisms) and the development and application of engineered materials that interface with biology by exploiting biological or biology-like functionalities. UCSB researchers are harnessing biology for: engineering biomaterials and biointerfaces; cell and tissue engineering; biofabrication; biosensors; understanding the biophysics, structure and function of living matter. Applications include the design of biosensors, tissue chips for modeling human physiology in a dish, and genetically engineered systems and cells enabling optogenetic control of signaling pathways.

Affiliated Faculty

Professor of of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Biomolecular Science and Engineering
Wilcox Family Chair in BioMedicine
Human stem cell research; Molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation; Derivation of ocular cells from stem cells; Soft tissue regeneration.
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering
The Dewey Lab engineers biomaterials with extracellular vesicles towards skeletal repair. Specifically, we examine a new class of extracellular vesicle residing in the extracellular matrix, termed matrix-bound nanovesicles. Using these tools we answer basic science questions and create translational therapies related to bone cancer, improving bone repair, preventing bone infection, and repairing coral reefs.
Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
The goal of our lab is to develop novel single-cell sequencing technologies to understand how variability in the epigenome regulates gene expression heterogeneity and cell fate decisions.
Professor of Bioengineering
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The Hanein Lab is exploring the structural functional complexities of the macromolecular machines that drive our biological processes—this includes imaging them in three-dimension and high resolution while at work in isolation, as well as within cells, organoids and tissues.
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Professor of Bioengineering
Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program
In-vivo molecular measurements, anyone?
Professor and Chair of Bioengineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Director, NSF Research Training Program in Data Driven Biology
Director, NIH T32 Training Program in Quantitative Mechanobiology
Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program
The Pruitt Lab studies how mechanics mediates biological signaling using microtechnologies for cellular mechanobiology and mechanical measurements.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering biomaterials to probe questions in mechanobiology.
Associate Professor of Physics and of Biomolecular Science and Engineering
We use ideas and concepts from physics, computer science, and mathematics to ask how embryos get in shape, and how organs function.
Associate Professor of Bioengineering, and of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Media Arts and Technology Graduate Program
Mechanical Engineering
Haptics, Robotics, Tactile Sensing, Soft Electronics, Soft Robotics, Bioinspired Systems, Computational Acoustics
Assistant Professor Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
We use photo-switchable proteins from plants to understand and control complex cellular behaviors.