Katherine Yanhang Zhang, PhD

Director, Center for Multiscale & Translational Mechanobiology; Professor (ME, BME, MSE)

Office 110 Cummington Mall, ENG 219
Email yanhang@bu.edu
Phone (617) 358-4406

Publications

View a complete list of publications chronologically by year.
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Research Areas

Mechanical behavior of soft biological tissue * Cardiovascular mechanics * Multi-scale modeling of biological composites * Micro- and nano- mechanics of thin film devices
Professor Zhang’s research focuses on understanding the mechanical behavior of soft biological tissues and composites at multi-scale using both experimental techniques and advanced computational modeling. Her research integrates the knowledge in biology, nonlinear solid mechanics, and finite element modeling, especially of complex materials and constitutive behavior. Professor Zhang believes that the interplay between fundamental analysis and clinical application will provide the greatest gains. Through her research, she hopes to provide insights on understanding the relationship between microscopic biological processes and changes in macroscopic tissue mechanics due to diseases, and help the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical techniques. Her research interest also lies in the mechanical characterization and multi-scale modeling of micro- and nano-electromechanical systems.
Professor Zhang’s current research projects are in the characterization of the biomechanical behavior of native and engineered blood vessels using an integrative approach of mechanical testing combined with multi-scale modeling, understanding of the inelastic deformation mechanisms in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems and relations of these behaviors to design, analysis, and device performance.

Honors and Awards

AIMBE Fellow, 2021
ASME Fellow, 2018
NSF CAREER Award, 2010
DARPA Young Faculty Award, 2007

Additional Affiliations

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Division of Materials Science & Engineering

Departments or Divisions: Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Affiliations: Primary & Affiliated Faculty, Synthetic Biology, Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology

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