Mehdi Nikkhah

Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Arizona State University

Mehdi Nikkhah is an accomplished Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). His academic journey includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic University, followed by a second M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.1 2 4

Academic and Professional Background

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Dr. Nikkhah completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, focusing on micro-scale tissue engineering and stem cell bioengineering.1 5
Research Focus: His research primarily involves the integration of micro- and nano-scale technologies with innovative biomaterials to develop biomimetic tissue constructs for regenerative medicine and disease modeling. He is particularly noted for his work on organ-on-a-chip technologies, which are designed to mimic human organ functions for better understanding disease mechanisms and testing therapies.3 4

Publications and Patents

Dr. Nikkhah has an extensive publication record with over 80 journal articles, more than 100 peer-reviewed conference papers, and several book chapters. His work has garnered significant citations, exceeding 11,000, with an H-index of 48, indicating substantial impact in his field.1 4 6 He holds multiple patents related to his research innovations.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Dr. Nikkhah has received numerous prestigious awards, including:

Induction into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows in 2024.
Senior Membership in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in 2023.
The NSF CAREER Award, which recognizes early-career faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, education, and outreach activities.3 4

Commitment to Education

Dr. Nikkhah is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of engineers and scientists, with a particular focus on supporting minority and underrepresented groups in STEM fields. He has trained over 70 individuals in his lab, including postdoctoral fellows, PhD/MS students, and undergraduate researchers.1 2 4

In summary, Mehdi Nikkhah is a prominent figure in biomedical engineering whose innovative research is advancing the fields of regenerative medicine and disease modeling through cutting-edge technology.