current team members - at the forefront of discovery
melissa knothe tate
Melissa Knothe Tate joined the nascent field of orthopaedic mechanobiology two decades ago, as a student at Stanford University, where she earned dual B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences and Mechanical Engineering (1988). Thereafter, she transferred her research and academic pursuits to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland, where she earned a Dipl. Masch. Ing., 1994 in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree (Dr. sc. techn. ETH, 1998) in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering. In 1998, she was awarded the Georg Fischer Prize for the most outstanding dissertation at the ETH Zürich. For several years, Dr. Knothe Tate headed the Bone Mechanobiology Research Group at the AO Research Institute in Davos, as well as the Computational Mechanobiology Research Group at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in Zürich. She spent the year 2000 on sabbatical, as Visiting Professor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics. In January 2001, Dr. Knothe Tate joined the Depts. of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, where she received several awards for innovation in the R&D sector. In July 2004, joined the faculty of Case Western Reserve University, where she was the first joint Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. In addition to being recently elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2010), Dr. Knothe Tate has earned prestigious awards from the Society for Mathematics and Biology, the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, and most recently (July 2011), The Christopher Columbus Foundation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has recently returned from her 2010-2011 sabbatical year, during which she carried out translational research in Europe, on a Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for Senior Researchers. Knothe Tate acts as a consultant and expert witness through her private consulting firm, Mechanobiologics International.
ulf knothe
Ulf Knothe joined The Cleveland Clinic's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2002, after completing fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic and New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He specializes in adult reconstruction, hip and knee replacement. Dr. Knothe is a member of the American Medical Association, the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty and the Orthopaedic Research Society. A committed clinician, Dr. Knothe considers research an important part of providing quality patient care as well as educating surgeons of the future. As an active researcher, Dr. Knothe has developed implants and instrumentation as well as innovative surgical procedures for orthopaedics. He is also active in basic orthopaedic research to develop new treatments for bone diseases including osteoporosis, implant loosening and fracture healing. One such treatment is being supported through NASA to prevent bone loss in space. Dr. Knothe has published numerous articles and has presented his development and research work at local, national and international conferences.
min jae song
Min Jae Song (MJ) joined the MechBio lab in the Summer of 2008 as a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering. He earned his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Theoretical Mechanics) at Texas A&M University in 2006 and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Hanyang University (South Korea). MJ's research focuses on deciphering how mechanical forces to which stem cells are subjected at cellular and subcellular length scales modulate cell fate. He uses computational methods (CFD and FEM ) and high temporal and spatial resolution experimental methods to map stresses and strains at the fluid-cell interface). MJ's work is an integral part of a collaborative, NIH R01 funded tissue engineering project with Professor David Dean of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Case. Outside the lab, MJ enjoys playing with his pretty daughter, Gina Song.
hana chang
Hana Chang received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2007 from Johns Hopkins University and joined the MechBio lab in the Summer of 2008. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University, and is in her 4th year of graduate studies supported through an NIH Training Grant. She has conducted research in collaboration with the AO Research Institute in Davos, Switzerland, as well as the Ludwig Maximilians Universitu in Munich, Germany. Hana's areas of research include cytoskeletal mechanoadaptation of stem cells in response to mechanical stresses, isolation and characterization of periosteum cells, and differentiation of periosteum cells in response to mechanical signals. Outside the lab, she is passionate about cooking and baking, and is also an avid rock climber.
shannon moore
Shannon Moore is a third year graduate student pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She received her B.S. in bioengineering from Rice University in 2009, and is a 2007 NSF REU alumnus of the Mechbio group. Shannon recently returned from a year-long Whitaker fellowship involving collaborations in Munich, Germany at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University and in Berlin, Germany at the Technical University of Berlin. Her research topics include histological characterization and modeling of a novel surgical membrane usable as an artificial periosteum. As a native Texan, Shannon enjoys spending her free time searching out the best Tex-Mex and exploring the city of Cleveland.
sarah evans
Sarah Evans earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in May 2011 from Case Western Reserve University. Already having joined the MechBio team as an undergraduate in 2009, Sarah is currently in her second year of graduate studies. With the support of the National Science Foundation, she has conducted research collaborations in Munich, Germany with Ludwig Maximilians Univeristy and in San Sebastian, Spain with the Biosurfaces Unit at the Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales (CIC biomaGUNE). Her research interests include tissue level periosteum mechanics, extracellar protein characterization of periosteum cells and the development of functionalized bio-surfaces for growth of periosteum cells. As an undergraduate Sarah was a member of the Case Western varsity swim team and she still enjoys swimming in her spare time.
favia merritt
Favia Merritt graduated with an A.B. from Harvard University in Environmental Science and Public Policy in 2009 and earned her M.S. from Columbia University in Nutrition in 2010. Currently, she is a second year medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In the MechBio lab, Favia has conducted research on regeneration of periosteum on denuded bone. Outside of medicine, she enjoys rock climbing, volunteering for the Animal Protective League, and watching and producing movies.
brad herynk
Brad Herynk is a graduate of Cornell University who received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering in 2010. He is now a MD candidate at Case Western Reserve University and is in his 2nd year of medical study. Recently he has collaborated with MetroHealth and the Cleveland Clinic for clinical medical research in orthopedics and neonatology. Current areas of interest include mass transport phenomena of cartilage and its applications to clinical orthopedics. His other interests include cycling, running, and aerial acrobatics.
jonathan parent
Jonathan Parent is an undergraduate senior pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Jonathan recently returned from a year long cooperative education program at Kensey Nash Corporation, working on extracellular matrix products for hernia repair and plastic and reconstructive surgery. His research topics include developing methods for characterization of periosteum's permeability and porosity characteristics. Outside of the lab, Jonathan enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.
abigail erinc
Abigail Erinc (Abby) is a junior Biomedical Engineering student studying biomechanics who has worked in the lab since June 2011. Her research involves analyzing how periosteum denuded bone remodels and how periosteum derived cells remodel in response to cues from their environment. Abby is a Resident Assistant for second year students, and also was a Supplemental Instructor for Precalculus, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2. She is a Peer Mentor through Women In Science and Engineering Roundtable (W.I.S.E.R.), as well as a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. She was the recipient of Dr. Jennie S. Hwang Award for Undergraduate Women in Science and Engineering for 2011. Abby enjoys running and the color blue, which is conveniently one of Case Western Reserve University's official colors (as well as orange).
colin lasko
Colin Lasko is a junior pursing a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in Orthopaedic Biomaterials at Case Western Reserve University. He joined the MechBio lab in Fall 2011 and is working with graduate student, Sarah Evans. He conducted prior research on the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where he studied bone deformity and osteoarthritis. Colin’s research interests include bone growth and bone regeneration and he has a particular interest in the methods and ways of improving the Ilizarov technique used for distraction osteogenesis. Outside of the lab, he maintains an active role in his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, by serving on the Executive Board and he is also on the Faculty Outreach Committee for CWRU’s Academic Integrity Board. He serves as a tour guide for the Undergraduate Admissions office and volunteers at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Colin is an avid runner, biker, and reader.
alumni - where in the "mechanical world" are they now?
class of 2011
sara(h) mcbride
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2010
Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University St. Louis, 2011 (Professor Matt Silva's Group, Department of Orthopaedics)
robert matthew miller
B.S./M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
Graduate Student, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 2011 -
joshua zimmerman
B.S./M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
Graduate Student, Georgia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 2011 -
sheronica james
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2008
M.S. Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2010
Graduate Student, Cleveland State University, 2011 -
erin mcnamara
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
Medical Student, University of Hawaii, 2011
yifei (benny) wang
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
R&D Engineer, Biotech Industry, 2011 -
michelle yu
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
R&D Engineer, Biotech Industry, 2011 -
lan cai
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2011
class of 2010
obinna nwanna
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2010
Graduate Student, Cleveland State University, 2011 -
class of 2009
scott dolejs
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2009
Medical Student, University of Wisconsin, 2009 -
class of 2007
eric james anderson
B.S./M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2004
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2007
Postdoctoral Fellow, Case Western Reserve University, 2007
NAE Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan, 2008
Research Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
thomas falls
B.S./M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2007
Medical Student, University of Rochester
class of 2006
steven kreuzer
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, CWRU, 2006
Ph.D. candidate, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
jared o'leary
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, CWRU, 2006
Medical School, Vanderbilt University, 2006 - 2010
Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics, 2010 -
class of 2005
aswin ganapathy
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Stanford University
Summer engineering fellow, 2005
M.D., Case Western Reserve University, 2010
roland steck
Dipl. masch. Ing., ETH Zurich, 1997
Ph.D. (Dr. techn. ETH) Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 2001
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2002
Postdoctoral Fellow, Case Western Reserve University, 2005
Senior Research Fellow, Dept. of Traumatology, University of Queensland, Australia
Adjunct Faculty, Technical University, Brisbane
class of 2004
margaret coley
High School Student researchers, Cleveland High School for Science and Medicine
R.N., CWRU Nursing School, 2004
stephanie rashewsky
REU student, 2004
D.D.S. Harvard University
todd ritzmann
Resident, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
Resident Research Fellow, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2004
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Akron Children's Hospital
class of 2003
sathya kaliyamoorthy
Ph.D., Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2003
Design Engineer, Abaqus Corporation
class of 2002
sanjay mishra
Ph.D., Orthopaedic Engineering Centre, Oxford University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2002
Professor, Technical University, Brisbane
pavel netrebko
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2002
class of 2000
christian gatzka
Dr. med., AO Research Institute, 2000
class of 1999
gwendolen reilly
Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Medical Informatics, ETH and University of Zurich, 1999
Lecturer, Tissue Engineering, University of Sheffield, Britain