Fatima N. Syed-Picard, PhD

Dr. Fatima Syed-Picard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine. She is also a faculty member in the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration. Dr. Syed-Picard received her BSE and MSE in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. After completing her Master's degree, Dr. Syed-Picard received additional training as an Intramural Research Training Fellow at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Following this, Dr. Syed-Picard earned her PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh as an NIH pre-doctoral fellow with a Ruth Kirschstein Individual National Research Service Award (NIH F31). Dr. Syed-Picard received post-doctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Ophthalmology, with a fellowship through the Ocular Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Ophthalmology Program. Dr. Syed-Picard joined the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Bioengineering, as a Research Assistant Professor in 2015 for the K phase of her NIH Pathway to Independence Award (NIH K99/R00). She joined the Pitt School of Dental Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2016. Dr. Syed-Picard's research focuses on stem cells and tissue engineering. Her research utilizes predominantly cell-based, scaffold-free tissue engineering where cells can generate and organize their own 3D structure and have the capacity to self-assemble into spatially organized multi-tissue structures. She studies these engineered tissues for the following applications:

• implantable devices for craniofacial therapy
• models of craniofacial tissue development and regeneration
• models of craniofacial disease

She is working to regenerate tissue including bone, dentin-pulp complex, and nerve for therapeutic use. Furthermore, Dr. Syed-Picard uses engineered tissues as a model to study basic developmental processes including tissue patterning. Dr. Syed-Picard uses several engineering tools to study these constructs including advanced microscopy and microfluidic devices. Dr. Syed-Picard has authored several peer-reviewed journal publications and book chapters. She is a member of the International Association of Dental Research, the American Association of Dental Research, and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society. She is a reviewer for multiple journals including Tissue Engineering, Journal of Dental Research, Acta Biomaterialia, and Matrix Biology. View a list of Dr. Syed-Picard’s publications here.