Faculty News
Rebecca Irwin Joins BME Faculty, Bringing Expertise in Mechanobiology and Orthopaedic Tissue Repair
The Department of Biomedical Engineering is pleased to announce that, as of July 2025, Dr. Rebecca Irwin has officially joined our primary faculty as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Irwin received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University in 2020, where she focused on how biomaterials for early osteoarthritis treatments altered the microscale tissue mechanics of articular cartilage. After obtaining her PhD, Dr. Irwin worked as a postdoctoral resercher at Duke University and Cornell University. Her postdoc work included studying the interplay between inflammation and mechanobiology in the meniscus, developing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) based therapies for osteoarthritis, and using intravital multiphoton microscopy to study orthopaedic tissues and neurovascular recovery after stroke.
"I’m delighted to have Dr. Irwin’s help in teaching Biosolid Mechanics this fall. She will bring some outstanding expertise on soft tissue mechanics and great new ideas for hands-on laboratory experiments. I look forward to seeing the course continue to evolve with her contributions!"
~ Amy Lerner, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering
At the University of Rochester, the Irwin Lab will explore how physical forces and biological signals interact to influence healing after joint injury. Using a multi-scale approach—from cells to whole joints—her team will apply advanced biomaterials and real-time imaging techniques to understand mechanotransduction and evaluate mechano-targeted therapies aimed at preventing joint deterioration.
Dr. Irwin's Research Interests include:
- Mechanobiology
- Structure–function relationships
- Soft tissue mechanics
- Intravital multiphoton microscopy
- Regenerative therapies
"I'm absolutely thrilled that Dr. Rebecca Irwin has joined our department. With her innovative ideas and expertise in biomechanics, mechanobiology, biomaterials, and imaging, she's ready to take on some of the most pressing challenges in the field of orthopaedic research. I can't wait to see what discoveries her team will make and the impact she will have on our students!"
~ Mark Buckley, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
The Department of Biomedical Engineering is proud to welcome Dr. Irwin and looks forward to the valuable contributions she will make to our research and educational missions.
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