NEW YORK, June 25, 2009 -- Robert Leon Mauck, Ph.D., a resident of Philadelphia, and assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, has been honored by ASME. He was recognized for outstanding achievements in soft tissue mechanobiology and tissue engineering focusing on understanding the physiologic and patho-physiologic processes that regulate the formation, maturation and adult function of soft connective tissue; and for outstanding mentorship of trainees in bioengineering. He received the Society’s Y.C. Fung Young Investigator Award.
The award, established in 1985, recognizes a young investigator who is committed to pursuing research in bioengineering and has demonstrated significant potential to make substantial contributions to the field of bioengineering. It was presented to Dr. Mauck during the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, held in Lake Tahoe, Calif., June 17 through 21.
Mauck’s research program focuses on the engineering of soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, with a particular focus on articular cartilage, the knee meniscus and the intervertebral disc. His lab uses rigorous mechanical and molecular analyses to understand the emerging functional properties of engineered constructs to precisely define the criteria and routes toward “success” from native tissue structure and function, and to focus technology development on improving these critical features in engineered constructs. Specifically, this work employs adult mesenchymal stem cells, custom mechanobiologic bioreactor culture conditions and novel scaffolding to enhance and direct functional tissue development.
Among his mentoring efforts, Mauck is the Ph.D. advisor to six graduate students and has guided orthopaedic residents during their research year. He has taught undergraduate engineering students, given lectures to undergraduate and graduate students, and mentored medical students in scholarly pursuit activities. He teaches not only the science but the “art” of scientific investigation, including grant writing, experimental design, ethics and research presentation skills.
Mauck has published more than 45 peer-reviewed manuscripts, more than 125 conference abstracts and five book chapters; and has garnered funding from a number of sources including the National Institutes of Health, the Aircast Foundation and NFL Charities.
A member of ASME, Mauck has been a reviewer for the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering since 2004 and has served on the ASME Bioengineering Division’s Solid Mechanics and Tissue Engineering committees since 2006. Other activities include service as bioengineering conference session co-chair, judge for poster competitions and abstract/paper reviewer.
Mauck is a member of the Orthopaedic Research Society, the International Cartilage Repair Society and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society.
Having obtained his undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and biomedical engineering at Columbia University, New York, in 1998, Mauck continued his studies at Columbia, earning his master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2000 and his Ph.D. in 2003. He carried out postdoctoral studies (2003-05) at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Md.).
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.
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