Farid Alisafaei
Farid Alisafaei
Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engr
324B Mechanical Engineering Center (ME)
About Me
Dr. Farid Alisafaei came to NJIT from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an NIH-T32 (National Institute of Health) postdoctoral fellow and member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Engineering Mechanobiology.
His lab develops integrated computational and experimental tools to understand and harness the role of mechanics in physiological processes such as wound healing and stem cell migration as well as in pathological processes such as fibrosis and cancer progression. Physical changes in the extracellular environment, due to aging or diseases such as fibrosis, obesity, and diabetes, affect various cellular functions such as gene expression, proliferation, and differentiation. Understanding how cells sense and respond to physical changes can lead to novel therapeutic modalities and pathways against diseases.
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OPEN POSITION: If you are interested in MechanoBiology and would like to pursue your Ph.D. in a collaborative and supportive environment, we invite you to explore our research projects on our website (MBBM-Lab.com) and contact us at farid.alisafaei@njit.edu
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His lab develops integrated computational and experimental tools to understand and harness the role of mechanics in physiological processes such as wound healing and stem cell migration as well as in pathological processes such as fibrosis and cancer progression. Physical changes in the extracellular environment, due to aging or diseases such as fibrosis, obesity, and diabetes, affect various cellular functions such as gene expression, proliferation, and differentiation. Understanding how cells sense and respond to physical changes can lead to novel therapeutic modalities and pathways against diseases.
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
OPEN POSITION: If you are interested in MechanoBiology and would like to pursue your Ph.D. in a collaborative and supportive environment, we invite you to explore our research projects on our website (MBBM-Lab.com) and contact us at farid.alisafaei@njit.edu
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Education
Ph.D.; University of Wyoming; Mechanical Engineering; 2015
M.S.; University of Guilan; Mechanical Engineering; 2010
B.S.; University of Guilan; Mechanical Engineering; 2007
M.S.; University of Guilan; Mechanical Engineering; 2010
B.S.; University of Guilan; Mechanical Engineering; 2007
Experience
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Asst. Professor, September 2021 -
University of Pennsylvania
Postdoctoral Research Associate, February 2016 - August 2021
Awards & Honors
2018 NIH Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award (T32), National Institutes of Health / University of Pennsylvania (2018-2020)
2016 NSF Center for Engineering Mechanobiology Fellowship, National Science Foundation / University of Pennsylvania (2016-2018)
2013 NASA Space Grant Graduate Assistantship, University of Wyoming
2016 NSF Center for Engineering Mechanobiology Fellowship, National Science Foundation / University of Pennsylvania (2016-2018)
2013 NASA Space Grant Graduate Assistantship, University of Wyoming
Website
2024 Fall Courses
ME 490 - MECH ENGR PROJECT A
ME 304 - FLUID MECHANICS
ME 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
ME 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
ME 790A - DOC DISSERTATION & RES
ME 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
ME 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
ME 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
ME 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
ME 491 - MECH ENGR PROJECT B
ME 304 - FLUID MECHANICS
ME 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
ME 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
ME 790A - DOC DISSERTATION & RES
ME 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
ME 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
ME 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
ME 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
ME 491 - MECH ENGR PROJECT B
Past Courses
ME 304: FLUID MECHANICS
Research Interests
Mechanobiology
Cell and Tissue Mechanics
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Fibrocontractile Disease
Wound Healing
Skin Grafting
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Gene Expression
Cell Reprogramming
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Physics of Cancer
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Nano & Micro Mechanics of Bio-Related Polymers
Cell and Tissue Mechanics
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Fibrocontractile Disease
Wound Healing
Skin Grafting
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Gene Expression
Cell Reprogramming
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Physics of Cancer
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Nano & Micro Mechanics of Bio-Related Polymers
Journal Article
Hong*, Y, & Peng*, X, & Yu, H, & Jafari, M, & Shakiba, D, & Sandler, J, & Pryse, KM, & Elson, EL, & Genin, GM, & Alisafaei, F (2022). Mechanobiology of Fibroblast Activation in Skin Grafting. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.12.511903 (*Equal contribution).
Loneker, AE, & Alisafaei, F, & Kant, A, & Janmey, PA, & Shenoy, VB, & Wells, RG (2022). Lipid droplets are intracellular mechanical stressors in fatty hepatocyte. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.27.505524.
Alisafaei*, F, & Shakiba*, D, & Iannucci, LE, & Davidson, MD, & Pryse, KM, & Chao, PG, & Burdick, JA, & Lake, SP, & Elson, EL, & Shenoy, VB, & Genin, GM (2022). Tension anisotropy drives phenotypic transitions of cells via two-way cell-ECM feedback. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.13.484154 (*Equal contribution).
Alisafaei, F, & Mandal, K, & Swoger, M, & Yang, H, & Guo, M, & Janmey, PA, & Patteson, AE, & Shenoy, VB (2022). Vimentin intermediate filaments can enhance or abate active cellular forces in a microenvironmental stiffness-dependent manner. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.02.486829.
Jiang, S, & Alisafaei, F, & Huang, YY, & Hong, Y, & Peng, X, & Qu, C, & Puapatanakul, P, & Jain, S, & Miner, JH, & Genin, GM, & Suleiman, HY (2022). An ex vivo culture model of kidney podocyte injury reveals mechanosensitive, synaptopodin-templating, sarcomere-like structures. Science Advances, 8(35), eabn6027.
Loneker, AE, & Alisafaei, F, & Kant, A, & Janmey, PA, & Shenoy, VB, & Wells, RG (2022). Lipid droplets are intracellular mechanical stressors in fatty hepatocyte. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.27.505524.
Alisafaei*, F, & Shakiba*, D, & Iannucci, LE, & Davidson, MD, & Pryse, KM, & Chao, PG, & Burdick, JA, & Lake, SP, & Elson, EL, & Shenoy, VB, & Genin, GM (2022). Tension anisotropy drives phenotypic transitions of cells via two-way cell-ECM feedback. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.13.484154 (*Equal contribution).
Alisafaei, F, & Mandal, K, & Swoger, M, & Yang, H, & Guo, M, & Janmey, PA, & Patteson, AE, & Shenoy, VB (2022). Vimentin intermediate filaments can enhance or abate active cellular forces in a microenvironmental stiffness-dependent manner. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.02.486829.
Jiang, S, & Alisafaei, F, & Huang, YY, & Hong, Y, & Peng, X, & Qu, C, & Puapatanakul, P, & Jain, S, & Miner, JH, & Genin, GM, & Suleiman, HY (2022). An ex vivo culture model of kidney podocyte injury reveals mechanosensitive, synaptopodin-templating, sarcomere-like structures. Science Advances, 8(35), eabn6027.
SHOW MORE
Peng, X, & Huang, Y, & Alisafaei, F (2022). Cytoskeleton-mediated alterations of nuclear mechanics by extracellular mechanical signals. Biophysical Journal, 121(1), 1-3.
Alisafaei, F, & Chen, X, & Leahy, T, & Janmey, PA, & Shenoy, VB (2021). Long-range mechanical signaling in biological systems. Soft Matter, 17(2), 241-253.
Mondrinos, M, & Alisafaei, F, & Yi, AY, & Ahmadzadeh, H, & Lee, I, & Blundell, C, & Seo, J, & Osborn, M, & Jeon, TJ, & Kim, SM, & Shenoy, VB, & Huh, DD (2021). Surface-directed engineering of tissue anisotropy in microphysiological models of musculoskeletal tissue. Science Advances, 7(11), eabe9446.
Lee, HP, & Alisafaei, F, & Adebawale, K, & Shenoy, VB, & Chaudhuri, O (2021). The nuclear piston activates mechanosensitive ion channels to generate cell migration paths in confining microenvironments. Science Advances, 7(2), eabd4058.
Alisafaei*, F, & Gong*, Z, & Johnson, VE, & Dollé, JP, & Smith, DH, & Shenoy, VB (2020). Mechanisms of local stress amplification in axons near the gray-white matter interface. Biophysical Journal, 119(7), 1290-1300 (*Equal contribution).
Zhang*, J, & Alisafaei*, F, & Nikolić, M, & Nou, XA, & Kim, H, & Shenoy, VB, & Scarcelli, G (2020). Nuclear mechanics within intact cells is regulated by cytoskeletal network and internal nanostructures. Small, 16(18), 1907688 (*Equal contribution).
Shakiba, D, & Alisafaei, F, & Savadipour, A, & Rowe, R, & Liu, Z, & Pryse, KM, & Shenoy, VB, & Elson, EE, & Genin, GM (2020). The Balance between actomyosin contractility and microtubule polymerization regulates hierarchical protrusions that govern efficient fibroblast–collagen interactions. ACS Nano, 14(7), 7868-7879.
Garg, N, & Chandrashekar, G, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2020). Fiber diameter-dependent elastic deformation in polymer composites-a numerical study. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 142(1), 011002.
Seo, J, & Byun, WY , & Alisafaei, F, & Georgescu, A, & Massaro-Giordano, M, & Shenoy, VB, & Lee, V, & Bunya, VY, & Huh, DD (2019). Multiscale revere engineering of the human ocular surface. Nature Medicine, 25(8), 1310-1318.
Alisafaei, F, & Jokhun, DS, & Shivashankar, GV , & Shenoy, VB (2019). Regulation of nuclear architecture, mechanics, and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of epigenetic factors by cell geometric constraints. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 116(27), 13200-13209.
Damodaran*, K, & Venkatachalapathy*, S, & Alisafaei, F, & Radhakrishnan, AV, & Jokhun, DS, & Shenoy, VB, & Shivashankar, GV (2018). Compressive force induces reversible chromatin condensation and cell geometry dependent transcriptional response. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 29(25), 3039-3051 (*Equal contribution).
Hall, MS, & Alisafaei, F, & Ban, E, & Feng, X, & Hui, CY, & Shenoy, VB, & Wu, M (2016). Fibrous nonlinear elasticity enables positive mechanical feedback between cells and ECMs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 113(49), 14043-14048.
Garg, N, & Han, CS, & Alisafaei, F (2016). Length scale dependence in elastomers - Comparison of indentation experiments with numerical simulations. Polymer, 98, 201-209.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Garg, N (2016). On couple-stress elasto-plastic constitutive frameworks for glassy polymers. International Journal of Plasticity, 77, 30-53.
Han, CS, & Sanei, SHR, & Alisafaei, F (2016). On the origin of indentation size effect and depth dependent mechanical properties of elastic polymers. Journal of Polymer Engineering, 36(1), 103-111.
Bucsek, AN, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Lakhera, N (2016). On thresholds in the indentation size effect of polymers. Polymer Bulletin, 73(3), 763-772.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2015). Indentation depth dependent mechanical behavior in polymers. Advances in Condensed Matter Physics, 391579.
Chandrashekar, G, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2015). Length scale dependent deformation in natural rubber. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 132(43), 42683.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R, & Alipour, A (2014). A semi-analytical approach for the interaction of carbon nanotori. Physica E, 58, 63-66.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Lakhera, N (2014). Characterization of indentation size effects in epoxy. Polymer Testing, 40, 70-78.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Sanei, SHR (2013). On the time and indentation depth dependence of hardness, dissipation and stiffness in polydimethylsiloxane. Polymer Testing, 32(7), 1220-1228.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R (2012). Dynamic analysis of heterogeneous pressure vessels subjected to thermomechanical loads. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 134(6), 061202.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R, & Rouhi, H (2012). Force distribution and offset configuration for carbon nanotubes. International Journal of Nanoscience, 11(02), 1250014.
Ansari, R, & Alisafaei, F, & Alipour, A, & Mahmoudinezhad, E (2012). On the van der Waals interaction of carbon nanocones. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 73(6), 751-756.
Alisafaei, F, & Rouhi, R, & Rouhi, H (2011). Continuum modeling of van der Waals interaction force between carbon nanocones and carbon nanotubes. Journal of Nanotechnology in Engineering and Medicine, 2(3), 031002.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R (2011). Mechanics of concentric carbon nanotubes: interaction force and suction energy. Computational Materials Science, 50(4), 1406-1413.
Ansari, R, & Alisafaei, F, & Ghaedi, P (2010). Dynamic analysis of multi-layered filament-wound composite pipes subjected to cyclic internal pressure and cyclic temperature. Composite Structures, 92(5), 1100-1109.
Alisafaei, F, & Chen, X, & Leahy, T, & Janmey, PA, & Shenoy, VB (2021). Long-range mechanical signaling in biological systems. Soft Matter, 17(2), 241-253.
Mondrinos, M, & Alisafaei, F, & Yi, AY, & Ahmadzadeh, H, & Lee, I, & Blundell, C, & Seo, J, & Osborn, M, & Jeon, TJ, & Kim, SM, & Shenoy, VB, & Huh, DD (2021). Surface-directed engineering of tissue anisotropy in microphysiological models of musculoskeletal tissue. Science Advances, 7(11), eabe9446.
Lee, HP, & Alisafaei, F, & Adebawale, K, & Shenoy, VB, & Chaudhuri, O (2021). The nuclear piston activates mechanosensitive ion channels to generate cell migration paths in confining microenvironments. Science Advances, 7(2), eabd4058.
Alisafaei*, F, & Gong*, Z, & Johnson, VE, & Dollé, JP, & Smith, DH, & Shenoy, VB (2020). Mechanisms of local stress amplification in axons near the gray-white matter interface. Biophysical Journal, 119(7), 1290-1300 (*Equal contribution).
Zhang*, J, & Alisafaei*, F, & Nikolić, M, & Nou, XA, & Kim, H, & Shenoy, VB, & Scarcelli, G (2020). Nuclear mechanics within intact cells is regulated by cytoskeletal network and internal nanostructures. Small, 16(18), 1907688 (*Equal contribution).
Shakiba, D, & Alisafaei, F, & Savadipour, A, & Rowe, R, & Liu, Z, & Pryse, KM, & Shenoy, VB, & Elson, EE, & Genin, GM (2020). The Balance between actomyosin contractility and microtubule polymerization regulates hierarchical protrusions that govern efficient fibroblast–collagen interactions. ACS Nano, 14(7), 7868-7879.
Garg, N, & Chandrashekar, G, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2020). Fiber diameter-dependent elastic deformation in polymer composites-a numerical study. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 142(1), 011002.
Seo, J, & Byun, WY , & Alisafaei, F, & Georgescu, A, & Massaro-Giordano, M, & Shenoy, VB, & Lee, V, & Bunya, VY, & Huh, DD (2019). Multiscale revere engineering of the human ocular surface. Nature Medicine, 25(8), 1310-1318.
Alisafaei, F, & Jokhun, DS, & Shivashankar, GV , & Shenoy, VB (2019). Regulation of nuclear architecture, mechanics, and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of epigenetic factors by cell geometric constraints. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 116(27), 13200-13209.
Damodaran*, K, & Venkatachalapathy*, S, & Alisafaei, F, & Radhakrishnan, AV, & Jokhun, DS, & Shenoy, VB, & Shivashankar, GV (2018). Compressive force induces reversible chromatin condensation and cell geometry dependent transcriptional response. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 29(25), 3039-3051 (*Equal contribution).
Hall, MS, & Alisafaei, F, & Ban, E, & Feng, X, & Hui, CY, & Shenoy, VB, & Wu, M (2016). Fibrous nonlinear elasticity enables positive mechanical feedback between cells and ECMs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 113(49), 14043-14048.
Garg, N, & Han, CS, & Alisafaei, F (2016). Length scale dependence in elastomers - Comparison of indentation experiments with numerical simulations. Polymer, 98, 201-209.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Garg, N (2016). On couple-stress elasto-plastic constitutive frameworks for glassy polymers. International Journal of Plasticity, 77, 30-53.
Han, CS, & Sanei, SHR, & Alisafaei, F (2016). On the origin of indentation size effect and depth dependent mechanical properties of elastic polymers. Journal of Polymer Engineering, 36(1), 103-111.
Bucsek, AN, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Lakhera, N (2016). On thresholds in the indentation size effect of polymers. Polymer Bulletin, 73(3), 763-772.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2015). Indentation depth dependent mechanical behavior in polymers. Advances in Condensed Matter Physics, 391579.
Chandrashekar, G, & Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS (2015). Length scale dependent deformation in natural rubber. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 132(43), 42683.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R, & Alipour, A (2014). A semi-analytical approach for the interaction of carbon nanotori. Physica E, 58, 63-66.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Lakhera, N (2014). Characterization of indentation size effects in epoxy. Polymer Testing, 40, 70-78.
Alisafaei, F, & Han, CS, & Sanei, SHR (2013). On the time and indentation depth dependence of hardness, dissipation and stiffness in polydimethylsiloxane. Polymer Testing, 32(7), 1220-1228.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R (2012). Dynamic analysis of heterogeneous pressure vessels subjected to thermomechanical loads. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 134(6), 061202.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R, & Rouhi, H (2012). Force distribution and offset configuration for carbon nanotubes. International Journal of Nanoscience, 11(02), 1250014.
Ansari, R, & Alisafaei, F, & Alipour, A, & Mahmoudinezhad, E (2012). On the van der Waals interaction of carbon nanocones. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 73(6), 751-756.
Alisafaei, F, & Rouhi, R, & Rouhi, H (2011). Continuum modeling of van der Waals interaction force between carbon nanocones and carbon nanotubes. Journal of Nanotechnology in Engineering and Medicine, 2(3), 031002.
Alisafaei, F, & Ansari, R (2011). Mechanics of concentric carbon nanotubes: interaction force and suction energy. Computational Materials Science, 50(4), 1406-1413.
Ansari, R, & Alisafaei, F, & Ghaedi, P (2010). Dynamic analysis of multi-layered filament-wound composite pipes subjected to cyclic internal pressure and cyclic temperature. Composite Structures, 92(5), 1100-1109.
COLLAPSE
Professional
Society of Engineering Science (SES); Symposium: Cell and Tissue Mechanics in Health and Disease
, 2022
, 2022