Lei Wang
Assistant Professor, Bioengineering
Assistant Professor, Biology
Research Focus
Wang laboratory integrates synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and microfluidics to investigate the design principles underlying cell state transitions, establish human physiological and pathological models using hiPSCs, and develop next-generation therapeutics for previously intractable diseases.
About
Lei Wang is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering (College of Engineering) and Biology (College of Science) at the Northeastern University. She joined the university in January 2024 after completing her postdoctoral training in the Biological Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her postdoctoral research, Lei specialized in mammalian synthetic biology, particularly focusing on genetically programming human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to differentiate into desired cell fates, inspired by natural differentiation processes. For her Ph.D., she concentrated on microfluidics and biosensors, developing a tumor-on-chip model to study the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs and creating an ultra-sensitive biosensor for detecting viral infections. Her most notable publications have been published in high-profile journals such as Nature Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Science, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Biomaterials, and Lab on a Chip.
Education
- PhD, Bioengineering, Colorado State University, 2013-2018
- Postdoc, Biological Engineering/Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, 2018-2023
Professional Affiliations
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- Cancer Research Institute
- Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer
Research Overview
Wang laboratory integrates synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and microfluidics to investigate the design principles underlying cell state transitions, establish human physiological and pathological models using hiPSCs, and develop next-generation therapeutics for previously intractable diseases.
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- L. Wang, W. Xu, S. Zhang, G. Gundberg, C. Zheng, Z. Wan, K. Mustafina, F. Callendo, H. Sandt, Roger Kamm and R. Weiss, “Sensing and guiding cell-state transitions by using genetically encoded endoribonuclease-mediated microRNA sensors,” Nature Biomedical Engineering, Accepted (2024).
- H. Park, A. Schwartzman, T. Tang, L. Wang, T. Lu, “Ultra-lightweight living structural material for enhanced stiffness and environmental sensing” Materials Today Bio, 18, 100504, (2023).
- L. Wang, J. Filer, M. Lorenz, C. Henry, D. Dandy, B. Geiss, “An Ultra-Sensitive Capacitive Microwire Sensor for Pathogen-Specific Serum Antibody Responses” Biosensor and Bioelectronics, 131, 46-52, (2019).
- L. Wang and D. S. Dandy, “High-throughput inertial focusing of micron- and submicron-sized particles” Advanced Science, 1700153, (2017).
- L. Wang, M. Veselinovic, L. Yang, B. Geiss, D. Dandy, “A sensitive DNA capacitive biosensor using interdigitated electrodes” Biosensor and Bioelectronics, 87, 646-653, (2017).
- L. Wang, W. Liu, Y. Wang, J. Wang, Q. Tu, R. Liu, J. Wang, “Construction of oxygen and chemical concentration gradients in a single microfluidic device for studying tumor cell-drug interactions in a dynamic hypoxia microenvironment” Lab on a Chip, 13, 4-695-705, (2013).
- X. Wang, F. Wei, A. Liu, L. Wang, J. Wang, L. Ren, W. Liu, Q. Tu, L. Li, J. Wang, “Cancer stem cell labeling using poly (L-lysine)-modified iron oxide nanoparticles” Biomaterials, 33 (14), 3719-3732, (2012).
Jul 09, 2024
Developing Methods to Control Cell-State Transitions
BioE/COS Assistant Professor Lei Wang’s research on “Sensing and Guiding Cell-state Transitions by Using Genetically Encoded Endoribonuclease-mediated MicroRNA Sensors” was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Dec 19, 2023
New Faculty Spotlight: Lei Wang
Lei Wang joins the Bioengineering department in January 2024 as an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in Biology.