CEAT associate professor awarded Humboldt Research Fellowship
Friday, January 3, 2025
Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu
Dr. Shuodao Wang of Oklahoma State University’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has been awarded the prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
This competitive fellowship enables highly qualified scientists and scholars to spend extended periods of research in Germany.
Wang will use this opportunity to visit the Technical University of Munich for 12 months starting in summer 2025. Wang will be collaborating with the host scholar Dr. Petra Mela on a joint effort to elucidate the effects of structural heterogeneity on the design of 3D printed scaffolds for tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs).
Valvular heart disease is a significant global health challenge, and TEHVs represent one of the most promising solutions. However, TEHV research poses formidable challenges, requiring precise attention to functionality, durability and biocompatibility.
Wang’s work aims to address these challenges by integrating advanced mechanical characterization methods developed by his group with cutting-edge additive manufacturing techniques from Mela’s group. They seek to unravel the intricate interplay between structural heterogeneity and TEHV performance through a systematical study. By analyzing detailed strain distributions in deformed TEHVs with heterogeneous scaffolds, the research seeks to leverage tunable heterogeneity to optimize TEHV designs. These innovations could potentially achieve TEHVs with performance levels comparable to natural heart valves.
Wang notes that the two research groups have already initiated work on the proposed project, and he looks forward to continuing this effort with Mela.
“This collaboration has the potential to enrich research endeavors at both institutions and foster knowledge exchange and cross-cultural learning experiences,” Wang said.
“I am excited for this opportunity because this extension of my research is what I have been focused on during the last several years.”
Wang also expressed gratitude for the mentorship and support he has received from senior colleagues at MAE, highlighting the valuable role it has played in advancing his research career.
