Treena Arinzeh

Treena Arinzeh

Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Treena Livingston Arinzeh’s research focuses on the development of functional biomaterials and tissue engineering strategies for the repair of damaged or diseased tissues.

Tissue engineering approaches include the use of stem cells and other cell types in combination with biomaterial scaffolds as a therapeutic strategy and for use as in vitro models to understand the development of normal and diseased tissues. Her most cited work to date has been in the use of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to induce bone formation without the use of immunosuppressive therapy, demonstrating the potential use of MSCs as an off-the-shelf therapy. Recent accomplishments include the development of piezoelectric materials, which are smart materials, processed into fiber structures that mimic both structure and function of ECM matrices. Piezoelectric materials can provide electrical stimulation without the use of external electrodes. Arinzeh has demonstrated the feasibility of these materials for bone, cartilage, and neural tissue engineering applications. She also develops biomimetic, naturally-derived materials, such as glycosaminoglycan-mimetics, that provide bioactivity and promote tissue repair through growth factor interaction and other mechanisms.

Arinzeh received her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University, her MSE in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a project manager at the stem cell technology company, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. and joined the faculty of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) as one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She served as interim chairperson and graduate director at NJIT and joined the faculty of Columbia University in fall 2022. 

Arinzeh has been recognized with numerous awards for her research in tissue engineering and biomaterials, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). She is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Arinzeh has 16 issued patents and serves on the editorial board of leading scientific journals including Science Advances and Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A. Arinzeh is a Co-leader of an Integrated Research Thrust (IRT) and the Director of Diversity of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology (CEMB).

Research Areas

  • Functional Biomaterials
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Stem Cells
  • Piezoelectric Materials

Additional information

  • Professional Experience
    • Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 2022- present
    • Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 2020-2022
    • Professor, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 2011-2020
    • Director of the Graduate Program, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 2012-2016
    • Associate Professor (with Tenure), Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 2006 –2011
    • Interim Chairperson, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 2009 (one year)
    • Consultant for various biomedical companies, 2006 - present
    • Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 2001 – 2006
    • Senior Development Engineer, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 2000-2001
    • Development Engineer II/Project Leader, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1999-2000
  • Professional Affiliations
    • Biomedical Engineering (BMES), member since 2006, fellow in 2017
    • Co-Chair of Annual Meeting, 2022
    • Secretary, 2022-2024
    • Board of Directors, 2019-2021
    • Awards Committee, 2016-2019
    • Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), member since 2000
    • Member of the Awards and Recognition Committee, 2019-2021
    • Chair of BORN (Black Orthopaedic Research Network), 2024-present
    • Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – member since 2014
    • Member of the Nominating Committee, 2016-2019
    • Society for Biomaterials, member since 1996
  • Honors & Awards
    • National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow, 2021
    • 2019 Coretta Scott King Award, National Society of Black Engineers, NJIT Chapter
    • 2018 George Bugliarello Prize, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
    • 2018 Constance A. Murray Diversity Award, NJIT
    • Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Fellow, 2017
    • Thomas Edison Patent Award, 2017
    • 2016 Technology Rising Star Award, 21st Women of Color STEM Conference
    • National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop on Biomaterials, Invited Attendee, 2016.
    • 12th Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative - Collective Behavior: From Cells to Societies.
    • Invited Attendee, 2014
    • New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Award – 2013
    • New Jersey Institute of Technology Excellence in Research Prize and Medal - 2013
    • Global Grand Challenges Meeting (National Academy of Engineering) Invited Attendee, 2013
    • American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow, 2013
    • Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) – Educational Leadership Award, 2013
    • Coulter Foundation Translational Award - Phase II, 2011
    • Coulter Foundation Translational Award - Phase I, 2010
    • The Grio’s Top 100 (msnbc.com) - 2009
    • Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee (nominated by the Governor of Connecticut),
    • Member, 2008-2014
    • 40 Under 40 to Watch in 2008, Black Enterprise magazine, 2007
    • National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Program Committee, 2006
    • National Academy of Engineering, 2005 U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, Invited Attendee
    • 2005 Standout Scholar, Black Issues in Higher Education
    • People to Watch in 2005, The Star Ledger - 2005
    • Outstanding Scientist Award from the NJ Association for Biomedical Research - 2004
    • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) - 2003
    • National Science Foundation Early CAREER Development Award - 2003
    • Solomon R. Pollock Research Award, University of Pennsylvania – 1999
  • Education
    • PhD, Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
    • MSE, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
    • BS, Mechanical Engineering, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ