Hadi T. Nia, PhD Assistant Professor (BME, MSE)
Education PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013
MSc, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPrimary Appointment Department of Biomedical Engineering
Areas of Interest Nia Lab conducts research at the interface of physical sciences, molecular biology, and immunology to answer the key questions in cancer (primary and metastasis) and pulmonary pathologies such as pneumonia, fibrosis, and COPD. We develop and utilize sophisticated models of disease in multiple scales (whole organ to single cell), and in multiple settings (in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro, and in silico). We are particularly interested in mechanobiology and mechano-immunity in the context of cancer metastasis, aging, and pathogen transmission/transport.
Publications
Research Areas • Mechanobiology and mechano-immunity
• Tumor microenvironment
• Physical sciences of cancer
• Intravital imaging and animal models of cancer
• Pulmonary pathogenesis
• Aging
Honors and Awards 2025 Cellular Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Rising Star
2025 Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology & Geroscience Research
2024 DoD Idea Award
2024 Sloan Research Fellowship
2023 Kilachand Fund Award for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering
2023 American Thoracic Society Science and Innovation Center Award
2023 Early Career Excellence Award, College of Engineering, Boston University
2023 NSF CAREER
2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2)
2022 Beckman Young Investigator Award
2021 NIH-NIBIB Trailblazer Award
2020 Center for Multiscale and Translational Mechanobiology (CMTM) Award
2020 Dean’s Catalyst Award
2020 ACS-BU pilot Award
2017 NIH-NCI Ruth L. Kirschstein (NRSA) Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32)
2017 Best poster award (3rd place), Gordon Research Conference on Physical Sciences of Cancer
2016 Tosteson Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
2016 MGPA Travel Award
2011 Whitaker Health Sciences Fellowship Award
2012 De Florez Travel Award
2011 Finalist in YC FUNG Student Paper Competition in Bio-mechanics and Bio-physics
2008 Office of Naval Research (ONR) Research Fellowship Awards
2004 Japan Student Service Organization Fellowship Award
Additional Affiliations • Division of Materials Science and Engineering
• Core member of Multicellular Design Program
• Member of Center for Multiscale and Translational Mechanobiology (CMTM)
• Member of Pulmonary Center
• Member of Neurophotonics Center
• Member of Photonics Center
• Member of Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry
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