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Tracie Ferreira, PhD
Associate Professor / Chairperson
Bioengineering
Contact
508-910-6537
508-999-9139
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Textiles 218
Education
| 1996 | Georgetown University | PhD in Microbiology |
| 1990 | Wheaton College | BA in Biology/Chemistry |
Teaching
- BNG 424/524- Human Organogenesis
- BNG 420/520- Case Studies in Bioengineering
- BNG 412/512- Molecular Bioengineering
- BNG 321- Quantitative Anatomy and Physiology
- BNG 255- Biology for Engineers
Teaching
Programs
Programs
- Bioengineering BS, BS/MS
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology MS, PhD
- Engineering and Applied Science PhD
Teaching
Online and Continuing Education Courses
Provision of an understanding of how molecules drive function in biological systems. Students will become proficient in cell biology and integrate that knowledge with the chemical nature of molecules. The students will utilize mathematics, science and engineering concepts to study how biological molecules interact. Examples of current day advances and discoveries will highlight contemporary issues facing the field of bioengineering and how the field has addressed those challenges.
Register for this course.
Principles of growth of normal functioning biological tissues and organs outside the human body that serve as replacement body parts. Students will also learn how living cells within a body differentiate and grow, that is, stem cell and related competitive technologies.
Register for this course.
A culminating experience in which the student synthesizes his/her course knowledge and experimental skills into a brief but detailed experimental study, which also involves cross-field interdisciplinary cooperation. Although in some cases this project may be done individually under the supervision of one faculty member, it is expected that students will join in a team-based, collaborative effort involving students from a number of different disciplines, post-doctoral fellows and industry representatives and with intercampus participation.
Research analysis and discussion of important developments in Bioengineering. The cases will be selected from a variety of sources-seminal legal cases, patents and inventions.
Register for this course.
Research analysis and discussion of important developments in Bioengineering. The cases will be selected from a variety of sources-seminal legal cases, patents and inventions.
Register for this course.
Research
Research awards
- $ 99,977 awarded by U.S. Army CCDC Soldier Center for Synthetic Biology based Nanomaterials for Soldiers Protection
- $ 40,125 awarded by Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for MLSC High School Apprenticeship Challenge 2022
- $ 1,498,020 awarded by National Science Foundation for The Accelerated Engineering Leadership (AccEL) Project
Research
Research interests
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Biological engineering: how do we define a biological system and understand the components that drive the formation and processes of that system? Organisms use complex pathways and signals to elicit very specific developmental outcomes as well as to regulate day to day activities. Using the zebrafish Danio rerio as a model for development we ask questions regarding the cell signals that drive development of craniofacial elements as well as the signals required for tissue regeneration in the zebrafish. Due to the evolutionary conservation of genes and proteins between humans and lower vertebrates such as zebrafish, we can apply what we learn in this model to various goals in bioengineering. Understanding multipotent cell types and the signals required for their differentiation generates the potential to assist in designing tissue engineering experiments. Furthermore, understanding the characteristics of the zebrafish that allow them to regenerate fins, heart and liver tissue will help us define events that may lead to potential therapies in humans who have lost the ability to regenerate most tissues.