Lance Lian has joined the Biomedical engineering department as an assistant professor.
Lian will teach BME 413 Mass Transport in Biological Systems, as well as a new course he has developed titled, BIOE 597L Stem Cell Engineering and Therapy. The new course aims to raise awareness and understanding of stem cells and promote their vast potential at University Park.
In addition to his teaching contributions, Lian also serves as the principal investigator of the Pluripotent Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory.
Lian received a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering from Zhejiang University, China, and a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Most recently, he completed postdoctoral studies as a fellow at Harvard University where he specialized in stem cell and regenerative medicine.
Lian’s research accomplishments provide the first demonstration of producing essentially pure populations of human heart muscle cells from pluripotent stem cells. His work has been awarded the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Cozzarelli Prize.
His current research interests include: directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, genome editing, cardiovascular therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Lian also holds joint appointments in the Department of Biology and The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.
Pak Kin Wong has joined the department as a professor.
Wong will teach BIOE 513 Bioengineering Graduate Laboratory, and a newly developed course, BIOE 597C Biotransducters.
In addition to his teaching contributions, Wong also serves as the principal investigator of the Systematic Bioengineering Laboratory.
Wong received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical and automation engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master of Science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical and aerospace engineering, also from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He has joined Penn State as part of the Frontier Faculty within the College of Engineering—a group of senior-and mid-career faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional records of success in integrating teaching, research, innovation, leadership and service to their institutions and profession.
Prior to starting at the University, he held faculty positions at the University of Arizona, where he served as an associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering with joint appointments in: the biomedical engineering graduate interdisciplinary program, the Bio5 Institute for Collaborative Bioresearch, agricultural and biosystems engineering, and the Southwest Environmental Center.
Wong states that his teaching philosophy is centered around “motivating students and helping them to become accomplished and independent intellectuals.”
His research focuses on engineering techniques such as microfluidics, biomechanics and transducer design for addressing important problems in biology and medicine. Wong hopes his experience in these areas will be instrumental for developing new programs at the interface between the life sciences and mechanical engineering departments.
In addition to biomedical engineering, Wong also holds appointments in The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, and the Department of Surgery within the College of Medicine.