Welcome to Ozdemir Lab at SDSMT
Phenotypic plasticity of cells
Extracellular Matrix Mimicry Laboratory
Regenerative Engineering Outreach
In 2023 Summer we organized a Regenerative Engineering Outreach Program to more than 100 middle school students to teach full-digit regeneration inspired from amphibians..Both the students and we had a lot of fun. We thank Reptile Gardens for bringing lovely Axolotl, Newt, Bull Frog and Tiger Salamander to the classroom.
LEGO Tendon Bioreactor Project
Since 2022 we are building several outreach events to high school and middle school students to incorporate Engineering design and Tissue Engineering Bioreactors concepts using fun and modular LEGO pieces. In this fun program, we first teach the fundamentals of Tissue Engineering in a lecture-style format in the classroom. Following section we first show a modular Tendon Tissue Engineering Bioreactor model developed in-house [1]. Once students grasp the working principles of the tendon bioreactor a hands-on, independent design session utilizing LEGO pieces allowed students to build their bioreactors. Students were challenged by creativity, developing connections, and creating value to encourage entrepreneurial thinking.
[1]. The Pull of Tissue Engineering: A STEM Outreach Program with a Modular Cyclic Stretch Device to Engage High School Students, T Ozdemir, E Senocak, G Gerber, SE Tayhan, JL Brown - Biomedical Engineering Education, 2022
