Ali Ansari

Research Interests

• Cancer
• Curriculum Mapping and Course Design
• Accessibility/Universal Design
• Active Learning
• Game Based Learning

Research Statement

My doctoral research was focused on two major aspects. The first was the creation of a surface functionalization schema which could allow for customizable targeting of a cell type from a mixed samples of cells and the subsequent capture to a chemical surface. This isolated cell could then be released from the capture surface by interacting with a secondary anchor, which then would allow for the cell to be released while keeping the number of cell expression altering processes minimized. We then took this static platform and applied it to microfluidic devices which could then improve the throughput and the design of the overall schema. By integrating the capture surface with microfluidics we could show isolation of specific cancer cells from a mixed population and were able to show release of these cells to have their receptors quantified using quantitative flow cytometry. We compared the receptor quantification to make sure that there were only minimal differences between the released cells and cells that were not exposed to the microfluidic isolation to validate the receptor numbers and the authenticity of the isolation keeping those receptor numbers consistent.

My postdoctoral research projects have spanned many different fields of expertise. I have published many different review papers of which two were first author and regarded material science and chemistry more than the cancer or microfluidics elements. In them, I focused on developing surfaces to capture and isolate cells to better improve personalized or precision medicine, rather than focusing explicitly on cancer as the main application, as one of the greatest advantages of material science applications in biomedical engineering is that it can be applied to any branch of our field from tissue engineering, to imaging to biosensing, and even drug testing and drug delivery. In that sense, we focused on developing reproducible methods of capturing and isolating cells but also in general the advantages for altering surfaces with this kind of chemistry. I also have one Journal of Visualized Experiments protocol paper which shows the basis of our SATCR surface functionalization isolation schema. In addition to that, I am first author on two research papers regarding our isolation technique as well as a contributing author on two to three more papers that have recently been published in the Tissue Engineering and Systems Biology field as well, in which I conducted experiments and helped write sections of the manuscript. I am also an author on a few posters for graduate student presentations at BMES as well due to my work at Case Western Reserve University in Drug Delivery and Polymer Chemistry. In each of those, my expertise in functionalization and altering material surfaces for microfluidics and cell interfaces enabled a way of integrating additional functionality into more static substrates and platforms.

My current research is quite a bit of a departure from this in terms of focus but not in rigor. As all of these previous experiences have taught me, research is solving a puzzle and figuring out which pieces are important and where they fit. My current focus is in teaching and figuring out how to bestow puzzle pieces to other students so that they may complete their own puzzles. This is a little more difficult and complex than doing it oneself, as I can know very quickly which puzzle pieces I don't own myself, but I don't always know which ones others have and how familiar they are with them. In this vein, I have focused on creating activities to allow students to play and familiarize themselves with their own knowledge and work on applying these lessons to the different types of puzzles that they may have in terms of problems and tests. I think that project based learning is one of the best ways to teach students and allow them to play in a sandbox with lower stakes for failure, and it is something that I am working towards.

In terms of publications and assessments, I have an IRB that allows me to collect data from students on the types of learning activities that I am trying and I am compiling those in hopes of improving the curriculum. Once I am able to analyze the data and find some trends that are consistent across the semesters that I am teaching it, I can start to publish on them.

Primary Research Area

• Research in BME Education

Selected Articles in Journals

• J. Mann, A. Ansari, W. L. Chang, C. Cvetkovic, H. Golecki, and R. Hajj, “Y(Our) story: A collaborative autoethnographic reflection of a faculty community of practice to promote equity-oriented engineering education,” 2025 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Jun. 2025.
• Ansari, Ali, et al. “Cell isolation via spiral microfluidics and the secondary anchor targeted cell release system.” AIChE Journal, vol. 65, no. 12, 6 Nov. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.16844.
• Watson, Craig, et al. “Multiplexed microfluidic chip for Cell co-culture.” The Analyst, vol. 147, no. 23, 2022, pp. 5409–5418, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2an01344d.
• Mamer, S.B., Page, P., Murphy, M. et al. The Convergence of Cell-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance and Biomaterials: The Future of Quantifying Bio-molecular Interactions—A Review. Ann Biomed Eng 48, 2078–2089 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02429-4
• Ansari A, Patel R, Schultheis K, Naumovski V, Imoukhuede PI. A Method of Targeted Cell Isolation via Glass Surface Functionalization. J Vis Exp. 2016 Sep 20;(115):54315. doi: 10.3791/54315. PMID: 27684992; PMCID: PMC5092063.
• Ansari, A., Imoukhuede, P.I. Plenty more room on the glass bottom: Surface functionalization and nanobiotechnology for cell isolation. Nano Res. 11, 5107–5129 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2177-7
• Chen, Si et al. Current State-of-The-Art and Future Directions in Systems Biology. Progress and Communication in Sciences, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 1, p. 12-26, oct. 2014. ISSN 2288-7113.
• Ansari, A., Lee-Montiel, F.T., Amos, J.R. and Imoukhuede, P.I. (2015), Secondary anchor targeted cell release. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 112: 2214-2227. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.25648
• Ansari, A., Trehan, R., Watson, C., & Senyo, S. (2021). Increasing silicone mold longevity: a review of surface modification techniques for PDMS-PDMS double casting. Soft Materials, 19(4), 388–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/1539445X.2020.1850476
• X. Wang, A. Ansari, V. Pierre, K. Young, C. R. Kothapalli, H. A. von Recum, S. E. Senyo, Injectable Extracellular Matrix Microparticles Promote Heart Regeneration in Mice with Post-ischemic Heart Injury. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2022, 11, 2102265. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202102265

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Bethke, Eliot; Ansari, Ali, Amos, Jennifer R.; Bradley Joe; Ochia, Ruth P.E.; Golecki, Holly M., “An Adaptive Scaffolding Approach Based on Team Dynamics in an Integrated Masters and Undergraduate Bioengineering Capstone Design Course”, Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition. 2024 Accepted
• Bethke, Eliot; Ansari, Ali, Amos, Jennifer R.; Bradley Joe; Ochia, Ruth P.E.; Golecki, Holly M., “Bridging extracurricular skill needs in bioengineering capstone design with just-in-time workshops.”, Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition. 2024 Accepted
• Submitted but pulled WIP Paper for ASEE Annual Conference 2025- Received a workshop presentation on Sunday, June 22nd, Ansari, Ali, “Workshop: Sunday Workshop: Making Serious Games Less Serious: Building Inclusive Game and Puzzle-based Learning Modules”. 2025
• Submitted Abstract for BMES Annual Conference 2024- Ansari, Ali, “Fantastic Games And How To Find Them: Developing Game- Based Learning Modules for Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Curriculum”, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting, Portland, OR October 2024 Submitted
• Submitted WIP Paper for ASEE Annual Conference 2024- Received a poster presentation Ansari, Ali, “Work in Progress: Enhancing Student Engagement and Interest in STEM Education through Game-Based Learning Techniques in Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Core Curricula and How to Create Them”, Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition. 2024 Accepted

Abstracts (in print or accepted)

• Ansari A. Work in Progress: Enhancing Student Engagement and Interest in STEM Education through Game-Based Learning Techniques in Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Core Curricula and How to Create Them. ASEE Annual Conference 2024. 2024 June; Urbana, Illinois, United States.
• Ansari A. Workshop: Sunday Workshop: Making Serious Games Less Serious: Building Inclusive Game and Puzzle-based Learning Modules. ASEE Annual Conference 2025. 2025 June; Urbana, Illinois, United States
• Mann J, Wright A, Althaus E, Chang W, Ansari A, Cvetkovic C, Hajj R, Golecki H. Reflective Teaching Practices for Equity-Minded Engineering Instructors. ; ASEE Conferences.
• Ansari A. Board 12: Work in Progress: Enhancing Student Engagement and Interest in STEM Education through Game-Based Learning Techniques in Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Core Curricula and How to Create Them. ; ASEE Conferences.
• Mann J, Golecki H, Chang W, Hajj R, Ansari A, Cvetkovic C. (2025). Y(Our) story: A collaborative autoethnographic reflection of a faculty community of practice to promote equity-oriented engineering education. American Society for Engineering Education(ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal Canada, June 2025.

Patents

• 18/716,576

Teaching Honors

• 2024 Excellent Teacher Rating based on ICES ratings from the Department Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
• 2023 Excellent Teacher Rating based on ICES ratings from the Department Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning