Alex Chen.

• ›Leading development of an injectable thermoresponsive hydrogel scaffold for articular cartilage repair, achieving compressive moduli of 0.5–0.9 MPa matching native tissue
• ›Designed and executed 12-week in-vivo ovine defect study in collaboration with the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; histological analysis ongoing
• ›Supervised two M.S. rotation students on scaffold synthesis and mechanical testing protocols
• ›Co-authored 3 manuscripts in preparation and presented at ORS Annual Meeting 2024

• ›Characterised hydroxyapatite coatings on porous Ti-6Al-4V implant substrates; adhesion strength exceeded ISO 13779-4 by 18%
• ›Executed fatigue testing per ASTM F2068 for total knee and hip systems; compiled data packages for two FDA 510(k) submissions
• ›Developed internal SOP for automated coating thickness measurement, reducing QC cycle time by 30%
• ›Collaborated cross-functionally with R&D, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing to resolve coating delamination failure mode

• ›Formulated and characterised PTFE-based catheter blends for interventional cardiology applications; identified optimal blend reducing trackability force by 22%
• ›Built bench-top vascular model test rig for in-vitro catheter navigation studies and trained two technicians on its use
• ›Supported design verification activities for a peripheral vascular catheter; contributed to risk analysis and FMEA documentation

• ›Synthesised and characterised PLGA-PEG copolymers for nanoparticle drug delivery; optimised encapsulation efficiency to >85%
• ›Developed folate-conjugation protocol for targeted delivery to FR-positive cancer cells; demonstrated 3× higher uptake in vitro
• ›Co-authored peer-reviewed publication in Biomaterials (2020)

M.S. Biomedical Engineering

Thesis: Viscoelastic Hydrogels for Nucleus Pulposus Replacement — Advisor: Prof. Shyni Varghese

B.S. Materials Science & Engineering / Bioengineering (double major)

GPA: 4.6 / 5.0 · Dean's List · Tau Beta Pi