M Taher A Saif

Research Interests

• Biomechanics
• Biohybrid robots, engineered living systems
• Biomechanics: Cellular mechanics and mechanotransduction, cancer metastasis, neuro mechanics
• Deformation mechanisms of nanoscale materials
• Mechanics of Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)

Research Statement

Professor Saif's research focuses on the mechanics of nanoscale materials and living cells. He uses both theory and experiment to explore (1) the effect of size on the mechanics of materials, and (2) the role of mechanical force in determining the functionality of cells and cell clusters.

Professor Saif demonstrated experimentally, for the first time, that plastic deformation in nanocrystalline metal films can be reversible. After plastic deformation, metals with grain sizes between 50 and 100 nanometers recover most of their plastic strain under macroscopically stress-free condition. This recovery is time dependent and thermally activated. Saif showed that the recovery originates from the small size and heterogeniety of microstructure of the metal specimens. The research, which was reported in Science, raises the possibility of manufacturing metal components that can heal themselves after being deformed or dented.

In the area of cellular mechanics, Professor Saif's projects involve neurons, cancer and cardiac cells, and interactions between cells in clusters. He seeks to address questions such as: What is the role of tension in neurons on memory and learning? Does mechanical microenvironment influence the onset of metastasis during cancer development? Can clusters of cells be guided so that they evolve into biological machines? He, together with Professor Akira Chiba of the the University of Maimi, showed that neurons are under mechanical tension, and that such tension might be essential for memory and learning.

Primary Research Area

• Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Engineering

Selected Articles in Journals

• Rafael Mestre, Aníbal M. Astobiza, Victoria A. Webster-Wood, Matt Ryan, and M. Taher A. Saif. Ethics and responsibility in biohybrid robotics research. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., July 23, 2024 (31) e2310458121.
• Emon, B., Joy, M. S. H., Lalonde, L., Ghrayeb, A., Doha, U., Ladehoff, L., Brockstein, R., Saengow, C., Ewoldt, R.H., & Saif, M. T. A. (2024). Nuclear deformation regulates YAP dynamics in cancer associated fibroblasts. Acta Biomaterialia, 173, 93-108.
• Onur Aydin, Kenta Hirashima and M Taher A Saif. Incorporating Geometric Nonlinearity in Theoretical Modeling of Muscle-Powered Soft Robotic Bio-Actuators. Journal of Applied Mechanics, Jan 2024, 91(1): 011008.
• Emon, B., Saif, M.T.A. A window into solid stresses within tumours. Nat. Biomed. Eng 7, 1348–1349 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-023-01121-2
• Joy MSH, Nall DL, Emon B, Lee KY, Barishman A, Ahmed M, Rahman S, Selvin PR, Saif MTA. Synapses without tension fail to fire in an in vitro network of hippocampal neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Dec 26;120(52):e2311995120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2311995120. Epub 2023 Dec 19. PMID: 38113266; PMCID: PMC10756289.
• 142. Bashar Emon, You Jin Song, M. Saddam H. Joy, Mounisha V. Kovour, Kannanganattu V. Prasanth & M. Taher A. Saif. Mechanosensitive changes in the expression of genes in colorectal cancer-associated fibroblasts. Scientific Data volume 10, Article number: 350 (2023), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02233-9.
• Ki Yun Lee, Justin S. Rhodes, and M. Taher A. Saif. Astrocyte-mediated transduction of muscle fiber contractions synchronizes hippocampal neuronal network development. Neuroscience, 155, pp 25-36, 2023.
• Q Yang, TL Liu, Y Xue, H Wang, Y Xu, MAB Emon, …, M. Taher A. Saif, Yonggang Huang, Jan-Kai Chang, and John A. Rogers, “Eco/bioresorbable forms of micro-electromechanical systems”, Nature Electronics, 5, 526–538, 2022.
• Umnia Doha, Onur Aydin, MSH Joy, Bashar Emon, William Drennan, MTA Saif. Disorder to order transition in cell-ECM systems mediated by cell-cell collective interactions. Acta Biomaterilia, 154, 290-301, 2022.
• Eunkyung Ko, Onur Aydin, Zhengwei Li, Lauren Gapinske, Kai-Yu Huang, Taher Saif, Rashid Bashir, Hyunjoon Kong. Empowering Engineered Muscle in Biohybrid Pump by Extending Connexin 43 Duration with Reduced Graphene Oxides. Biomaterials, Biomaterials, 2022 Jun 24;287:121643. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121643.
• Onur Aydin, Austin P. Passaro, Ritu Raman, Samantha E. Spellicy, Robert P. Weinberg, Roger D. Kamm, Matthew Sample, George A. Truskey, Jeremiah Zartman, Roy D. Dar, Sebastian Palacios, Jason Wang, Jesse Tordoff, Nuria Montserrat, Rashid Bashir, M. Taher A. Saif, and Ron Weiss Principles for the design of multicellular engineered living systems. APL Bioengineering 6, 010903 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0076635
• Yue Wang, Zhengwei Li, Mohamed Elhebeary, René Hensel, Eduard Arzt and M Taher A Saif. Water As A “Glue”: Elasticity-Enhanced Wet Attachment of Biomimetic Microcup Structures. Science Advances, 2022 Mar 25;8(12):eabm9341. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9341. Epub 2022 Mar 23
• Zhengwei Li, William C. Balance, Md Saddam Hossain Joy, Shrey Patel, Joanne Hwang, Hyunjoon Kong, and M. Taher A. Saif. Adaptive biohybrid pumping machine with flow loop feedback. Biofabrication 14 (2022) 025009, doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/ac4d19
• Zhengwei Li and M Taher A Saif. Mechanics of Biohybrid Valveless Pump-bot. Journal of Applied Mechanics. November 2021, Vol. 88(11): 111004.
• Austin P. Passaro, Onur Aydin, M. Taher A. Saif, Steven L. Stice. Development of an objective index, neural activity score (NAS), reveals neural network ontogeny and treatment effects on microelectrode arrays. Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports volume 11, Article number: 9110 (2021)
• Hangbo Zhao, Yongdeok Kim, Heling Wang, Xin Ning, Chenkai Xu, Judy Suh, Mengdi Han, Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Wei Lu, Haibo Li, Wubin Bai, Onur Aydin, Yoonseok Park, Jiaojiao Wang, Yao Yao, Yishan He, M. Taher A. Saif, Yonggang Huang, Rashid Bashir, John A. Rogers. Compliant 3D frameworks instrumented with strain sensors for characterization of millimeter-scale engineered muscle tissues. PNAS May 11, 2021 118 (19) e2100077118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2100077118
• Bashar Emon, Zhengwei Li, Md Saddam Hossain Joy, Umnia Doha, Farhad Kosari, M Taher A Saif. A novel method for sensor-based quantification of single/multi-cellular force dynamics and stiffening in 3D matrices. Science Advances, 7 (15) (2021) eabf2629. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf2629.
• M A Bashar Emon, Samantha Knoll, Umnia Doha, Lauren Ladehoff, Luke Lalonde, Danielle Baietto, Mayandi Sivaguru, Rohit Bhargava and M Taher A Saif. Dose-independent threshold illumination for non-invasive time-lapse fluorescence imaging of live cells. Extreme Mechanics Letters, 101249, 2021.
• Zhengwei Li, Alireza Tofangchi, Robert A. Stavins, Emon Bashar, Ronald D. McKinney, Paul J. Grippo and M. Taher A. Saif. Elastic modulus pen (EPen): A portable device to measure stiffness of soft tissues in vivo. Scientific Reports, volume 11, Article number: 378 (2021)
• Mikhail E. Kandel, Yuchen R. He, Young Jae Lee, Taylor Hsuan-Yu Chen, Kathryn Michele Sullivan, Onur Aydin, M. Taher A. Saif, Hyunjoon Kong, Nahil Sobh & Gabriel Popescu. Phase imaging with computational specificity (PICS) for measuring dry mass changes insub-cellular compartments. Nature Communications, (2020) 11:6256, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20062-x
• Onur Aydin, Bashar Emon, Shyuan Cheng, Liu Hong, Leonardo P. Chamorro, and M. Taher A. Saif. Performance of Fabrics for Home-Made Masks Against the Spread of COVID-19 Through Droplets: A Quantitative Mechanistic Study. Extreme Mechanics Letters, Volume 40, October 2020, 100924
• Mohamed Elhebeary, Tristan Harzer Gerhard Dehm and M. Taher A. Saif. Time-dependent plasticity in silicon microbeams mediated by dislocation nucleation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 21, 2020 117 (29) 16864-16871. First published: July 1, 2020, published online https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002681117
• Onur Aydin, Austin P. Passaro, Mohamed Elhebeary, Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Anthony Fan, Sittinon Nuethong, Rashid Bashir, Steven L. Stice and M. Taher A. Saif. 3D co-culture platform reveals functional outcomes of crosstalk between neural networks and muscles in early in vitro development. APL Bioengineering, 4 (1), 016107, 126. 2020. DOI: 10.1063/1.5134477.
• Jesica Bauer, Md Abdul Bashar Emon, Jonas J Staudacher, Alexandra L Thomas, Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg Georgina Mancinelli, Nancy Krett, M Taher Saif and Barbara Jung. Increased stiffness of the tumor microenvironment in colon cancer stimulates cancer associated fibroblast-mediated prometastatic activin signaling. Scientific Reports 10, Article number: 50 (2020).
• Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Karla P. Ramos-Cruz, Richard Sam, Mikhail E. Kandel, Onur Aydin, M. Taher A. Saif, Gabriel Popescu, and Rashid Bashir. Engineering geometrical 3-dimensional untethered in vitro neural tissue mimic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dec 4, 2019, published online www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1916138116.
• O. Aydin, X. Zhang, G. Pagan-Diaz, S. Nuethong, R. Bashir, M. Gazzola, T. Saif. (2019) Biohybrid motile bots with neuronal control. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 1, 2019 116 (40) 19841-19847.
• Zhang, Yao; Shi, Xuechen; Zhao, Tiankai; Huang, Changjin; Wei, Qiong; Tang, Xin; Santy, Lorraine; Saif, Taher; Zhang, Sulin. A Traction Force Threshold Signifies Metastatic Phenotypic Change in Multicellular Epithelia. Soft Matter (10.1039/c9sm00733d).
• Anthony Fan, Saddam Hossain Joy and and Taher Saif. A connected cytoskeleton network generates axonal tension in embryonic Drosophila. Lab on a Chip 2019,19, 3133-3139.
• William C. Ballance, Inkyu Oh, Yang Lai, Mohamed Elhebeary, Taher Saif, Yuhang Hu and Hyunjoon Kong. Vibration at structural resonance frequency of hydrophilic substrates enhances biofilm removal. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Volume 299, 15 November 2019, 126950 doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2019.126950
• Mikhail E. Kandel, Wenlong Lu, Jon Liang, Onur Aydin, Taher A. Saif and Gabriel Popescu. Cell-to-cell influence on growth in large Populations. Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 10, No. 9 / 1 September 2019.
• Mohamed Elhebeary, Md Abul Bashar Emon, Onur Aydin and M. Taher A. Saif. A novel technique for in situ uniaxial tests of self-assembled soft biomaterials. Lab Chip, 2019,19 (7), 1153-1161 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8LC01273C.
• B. J. Williams and M. T. A. Saif. Phase dependent mechanosensitivity in cardiomyocytes. Journal of Experimental Mechanics. Experimental Mechanics, 59 (3), 387-393, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-019-00472-9
• Andrew W Holle, Neethu Govindan Kutty Devi, Kim Clar, Anthony Fan, Taher Saif, Ralf Kemkemer, Joachim P Spatz. Cancer cells invade confined microchannels via a self-directed mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition. Nano Letters, 19 (4), 2280-2290, 2019, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04720.
• Zhengwei Li, Yongbeom Seo, Onur Aydin, Mohamed Elhebeary, Roger D. Kamm, Hyunjoon Kong, and M. Taher A. Saif. A biohybrid valveless pump-bot powered by engineered skeletal muscle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA January 29, 2019 116 (5) 1543-1548.
• Y Zhu, T Saif, FW DelRio. Recent Advances in Micro, Nano, and Cell Mechanics. Experimental Mechanics 59 (3), 277-278, 2019.
• 113. Emon Bashar, Jessica Bauer, Yasna Jain, Barbara Jung and Taher Saif. Biophysics of Tumor Microenvironment and cancer metastasis - a mini review. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 16 (2018) 279–287.
• Mohamed Elhebeary, and M. Taher A. Saif. A novel mems stage for in-situ thermomechanical testing of single crystal silicon microbeams under bending. Extreme Mechanics Letter, Volume 23, September 2018, Pages 1-8.
• Jan-Kai Chang, Emon Bashar, Chia-Shuo Li, Quansan Yang, Hui-Ping Chang, Zijian Yang, Chih-I Wu, Taher A. Saif, and John A. Rogers. Cytotoxicity and in vitro Degradation Kinetics of Foundry-Compatible Semiconductor Nanomembranes and Electronic Microcomponents. ACS Nano, Aug 13, 2018, DOI:10.1021/acsnano.8b04513.
• Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Xiaotian Zhang, Lauren Grant, Yongdeok Kim, Onur Aydin, Caroline Cvetkovic, Eukyung Ko, Hyunjoon Kong, Taher Saif, Mattia Gazzola, Rashid Bashir. Simulation and fabrication of stronger, larger and faster walking biohybrid machines. Advanced Functional Materials, Vol 28, Issue 33, published online Aug 13, 2018, doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201801145.
• Danielle Posey, Paris Blaisdell-Pijuan, Samantha K. Knoll, Taher A. Saif, and Wylie W. Ahmed. Small-scale displacement fluctuations of vesicles in fibroblasts. Scientific Reports 2018, 10.1038/s41598-018-31656-3.
• Roger D. Kamm, Rashid Bashir, Natasha Arora, Roy D. Dar, Linda G. Griffith, Melissa L. Kemp3, Kathy Kinlaw, Michael Levin, Adam C. Martin, Todd C. McDevitt, Robert M. Nerem, Mark Powers, Taher A. Saif, Shuichi Takayama, Shoji Takeuchi, Ron Weiss, Kaiming Ye, Hannah G. Yevick, Muhammad Zaman. The Promise of Multi-cellular Engineered Living Systems. APL Bioengineering (In press, 2018)
• Fan A, Tofangchi A, De Venecia M, Saif MT. A simple microfluidic platform for partial treatment of insuspendable tissue samples with orientation control. Lab Chip, 2018,18, 735-742. DOI:10.1039/C7LC00984D
• Holle AW, Young JL, Van Vliet KJ, Kamm RD, Discher DE, Janmey PA, Spatz JP, Saif MT. Cell-ECM mechanobiology- forceful tools and emerging needs for basic and translational research. 2018, Jan 10;18(1):1-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04982. Epub 2017 Dec 6.
• Fan A, Tofangchi A, Kandel M, Popescu G, Saif T. Coupled circumferential and axial tension driven by actin and myosin influences in vivo axon diameter. Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 27;7(1):14188. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13830-1. PMID:29079766, PMCID:PMC5660205.
• Elhebeary, M. and M. T. A. Saif, “Lessons learned from nanoscale specimens tested by MEMS based apparatus,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, (2017) Volume 50, Number 24, 50, 243001, DOI:10.1088/1361-6463/aa6e2b
• Elhebeary, M. and M. T. A. Saif, "Design, Simulation, and Testing of a Novel Bending Stage for Mechanical Characterization of Materials,” Experimental Mechanics, 2017;57:89. doi:10.1007/s11340-016-0195-5.
• Lee, J., A. A. Abdeen, X. Tang, T. A. Saif, and K. A. Kilian, "Matrix directed adipogenesis and neurogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow," Acta Biomaterialia, 2016, 42, 46-55.
• Tofangchi, A. A.*, A. Fan* and M. T. A. Saif, "Mechanism of Axonal Contractility in Embryonic Drosophila Motor Neurons In Vivo," Biophys J. 2016 Oct 4;111(7):1519-1527. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.08.024. [Cover article] [Cover image] [Biophysics Society blog].
• Knoll, S. and M. T. A. Saif, "Light induced localized and abrupt force relaxations in fibroblasts on soft substrates," Extreme Mechanics Letters (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2016.03.009 (2016).
• Anand, S. V. and M. Taher A. Saif, "Emergent dynamics of cardiomyocyte clusters on deformable polymeric substrates," Extreme Mechanics Letters, doi:10.1016/j.eml.2015.09.008 (2015).
• Sivaguru, M., G. Fried, B. S. Sivaguru, V. A. Sivaguru, X. Lu, K. H. Choi, M. T. A. Saif, B. Lin, and S. Sadayappan, "Cardiac muscle organization revealed in 3-D by imaging whole-mount mouse hearts using two-photon fluorescence and confocal microscopy," BioTechniques, Vol. 59, No. 5, November 2015, pp. 295–308.
• Lee, J., A. A. Abdeen, X. Tang, T. A. Saif, and K. A. Kilian, "Geometric guidance of integrin mediated traction stress during stem cell differentiation," Biomaterials, Volume 69, November 2015, Pages 174–183.
• Fan, A., K. Stebbings, D. Llano, and T. Saif, "Stretch Induced Hyperexcitibility of Mice Callosal Pathway," Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 Aug 5;9:292. doi:10.3389/fncel.2015.00292. eCollection 2015, PMID:26300729.
• Elhebeary, M. and M Taher A Saif, "A Micromechanical Bending Stage for Studying Mechanical Properties of Materials Using Nanoindenter," J. Appl. Mech 82(12), 121004 (2015) doi: 10.1115/1.4031334.
• Knoll, S., W. Ahmed, and T. Saif, "Contractile dynamics change before morphological cues during fluorescence illumination," Nature’s Scientific Reports 5, Article number: 18513 (2015). doi:10.1038/srep18513.
• Slater, B. J. , A. Y. Fan, K. A. Stebbings, M. T. A. Saif, and D. A. Llano, "Modification of a Colliculo-thalamocortical Mouse Brain Slice," Incorporating 3-D printing of Chamber Components and Multi-scale Optical Imaging. Journal of Visualized Experiments (103), e53067, doi:10.3791/53067 (2015).
• Anand, S., M. Y. Ali, and M. T. A. Saif, "Cell culture on microfabricated one-dimensional polymeric structures for bio-actuator and bio-bot applications," Lab Chip, 2015, Advance Article, published online 17 Feb 2015, DOI: 10.1039/C4LC01471E.
• Ali, M. Y., S. V. Anand, K. Tangella, D. Ramkumar, and M. T. A. Saif, "Isolation of Primary Human Colon Tumor Cells from Surgical Tissues and Culturing them Directly on Soft Elastic Substrates for Traction Cytometry," Journal of Visualized Experiments, J Vis Exp. 2015 Jun 4;(100):e52532. doi: 10.3791/52532.
• Ali, M.Y., C.Y. Chuang, and M.T.A. Saif, "Reprogramming cellular phenotype by soft collagen gels," Soft Matter. 2014 Nov 28;10(44):8829-37. doi: 10.1039/c4sm01602e.
• Cvetkovic, C., R. Raman, V. Chan, B.J. Williams, M. Tolish, P. Bajaj, M.S. Sakar, H. Harry Asada, M. Taher A. Saif, and R. Bashir, "Three-dimensionally printed biological machines powered by skeletal muscle," PNAS Early Edition, July 2014, doi/10.1073/pnas.1401577111.
• Knoll, S., M. Y. Ali, and T.Saif, "A Novel Method for Localizing Reporter Fluorescent Beads Near the Cell Culture Surface for Traction Force Microscopy," Journal of Visualized Experiments, Date Published: 9/16/2014, Issue 91; doi: 10.3791/51873.
• Williams, B.J., S.V. Anand, J.R., and M.T.A. Saif, "A self-propelled biohybrid swimmer at low Reynolds number," Nature Communications, 5, Article number 3081, Jan 17, 2014, doi:10.1038/ncomms4081.
• Tang, X., T.B. Kuhlenschmidt, Q. Li, S. Ali, S. Lezmi, H. Chen, T.A. Saif, M.S. Kuhlenschmidt, "A Mechanically-Induced Colon Cancer Cell Population Shows Increased Metastatic Potential," Molecular Cancer 2014 (May 29), 13:131, doi:10.1186/1476-4598-13-131.
• Tang, X., A. Tofangchi, S.V. Anand, and T. A. Saif, "A Novel Cell Traction Force Microscopy to Study Multi-cellular System," Plos Computational Biology, 10(6), e1003631, June 5, 2014, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003631.
• Ahmed, W. and T.A. Saif, "Active transport of vesicles in neurons is modulated by mechanical tension," Scientific Reports 4, Article number: 4481 doi:10.1038/srep04481, 27 March 2014.
• Ali, M.Y. and M.T.A. Saif, "Substrate Stiffness Mediated Metastasis Like Phenotype of Colon Cancer Cells is Independent of Cell to Gel Adhesion," Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (15 July, 2014) DOI: 10.1007/s12195-014-0345-8.
• Xin T. and T.A. Saif, "Remarkable Surface Adhesion Change of Colon Cancer Cells throughout in vitro Metastasis," International Journal of Applied Mechanics, 5(3), 1350025, 2013, DOI: 10.1142/S1758825113500257.
• Cha, C., E. Antoniadou, M.Lee, J.H. Jeong, W.W. Ahmed, T.A. Saif, S.A. Boppart, and H. Kong, "Tailoring Hydrogel Adhesion to Polydimethylsiloxane Substrates Using Polysaccharide Glue," Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Volume 52, Issue 27, pages 6949–6952, July 1, 2013.
• Rajagopalan, J. and M. T. A. Saif, "Fabrication of freestanding 1D PDMS microstructures using capillary micromolding," J MEMS, 22(5), 992-994, 2013, DOI: 10.1109/JMEMS.2013.2262605.
• Ahmed W., B. Williams, A. Silver, and T. A. Saif, ”Measuring the non-equilibrium vesicle dynamics in neurons under tension,” Lab on a Chip, 2013 (DOI:10.1039/C2LC41109A).
• Kang W. and T. Saif, "Size and Temperature Effect on Brittle-to-Ductile Transition in Single Crystal Silicon," Advanced Functional Material, 23(6), 713-719, 2013.
• Chan, V., K. Park, M. Collens, H.J. Kong, T. Saif, and R. Bashir, "Development of miniaturized walking biological machines," Scientific Reports, 2(857), Nov 15, 2012, doi:10.1038/srep00857.
• Tang, X., Q. Wen, T. B. Kuhlenschmidt, K.S. Kuhlenschmidt, P.A. Janmey, and T. A. Saif,"Attenuation of Colon Cancer Cells Mechanosensitivity throughout in vitro Metastasis," Plos ONE, 7(11): e50443, 2012.
• Wonmo Kang and M Taher A Saif, "In Situ Study of Size and Temperature Dependent Brittle-to-Ductile Transition in Single Crystal Silicon," Advanced Functional Materials (in press).
• Emerson de Souza, W. Ahmed, V. Chan, R. Bashir, T. A. Saif. "Cardiac myocytes' dynamic behavior differs depending on heart segment" Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sept 5, 2012, doi: 10.1002/bit.24725.
• Tang, X., M. Y. Ali, and M. T. A. Saif, "A Novel Technique for Micro-patterning Proteins and Cells on Polyacrylamide Gels," Soft Matter, 8(27), pp. 7197-7206, 2012.
• Chan, V., J. H. Jeong, P. Bajaj, M. Collens, T. Saif, H. Kong, and R. Bashir, "Multi-Material Bio-Fabrication of Hydrogel Cantilevers and Actuators with Stereolithography," Lab on a Chip, 12(1):88-98, 2012.
• Ahmed, W. W., T. C. Li, S. S. Rubakhin, A. Chiba, J. V. Sweedler, and T. A. Saif, "Mechanical Tension Modulates Local and Global Vesicle Dynamics in Neurons," Journal of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, Vol 5(2), pp 155-164, 2012 (invited article).
• Rajagopalan, J. and M. Taher A. Saif, "Influence of Microstructural Heterogeneity on the Deformation Behavior of Nanocrystalline Metals," Journal of Materials Research, 26, 2826-2832 2011.
• Kang, W. and M. T. A. Saif, "A Novel SiC MEMS Apparatus for In Situ Uniaxial Testing of Micro/Nanomaterials at High Temperature," Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 21 105017, 2011.
• Kang, W. and M. T. A. Saif, "In Situ Thermo-Mechanical Testing for Micro/Nanomaterials," MRS Communications, 1(1), 13-16, 2011, (IOP Select Paper).
• Nishitani, W., T. Saif, and Y. Wang, "Calcium Signaling in Live Cells on Elastic Gels under Mechanical Vibration at Subcellular Levels," PLoS ONE 6(10): e26181, 2011.
• Cha, C., J. H. Jeong, X. Tang, A. T. Zill, Y. S. Prakash, S. C. Zimmerman, T. A. Saif, and H. Kong, "Top-down Synthesis of Versatile Polyaspartamide Linkers for Single-step Protein Conjugation to Materials," Bioconjugate Chemistry, 22 (12), pp 2377–2382, 2011.
• Rajagopalan, J. and M. T. A. Saif, "MEMS Sensors and Microsystems for Cell Mechanobiology,"Invited article in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2011, 21 054002 doi, special focus issue on MEMS for Biology and Medicine.
• Tang, X., P. Bajaj, R. Bashir, and M. T. A. Saif, "How Far Cardiac Cells Can See Each Other Mechanically," Soft Matter (Cover article), 7, 6151-6158, 2011.
• Kang, W., J. Rajagopalan, and M. T. A. Saif, "In Situ Uniaxial Mechanical Testing of Small Scale Materials - a Review," Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letter, 2(4), 282-287, 2010 (invited article).
• Bajaj, P., X. Tang, M. T. A. Saif, and R. Bashir, "Stiffness of the Substrate Influences the Phenotype of Embryonic Chicken Cardiac Myocytes," Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A, Volume 95A, Issue 4, pages 1261-1269, 15 December 2010.
• Rajagopalan, J., A. Tofangchi, and M. T. A. Saif, "Linear, High Resolution BioMEMS Force Sensors with Large Measurement Range," Journal of MicroElectroMechanicalSystems, Vol 19(6), pp1380-1389, Nov 2010.
• Kang, W., J. H. Han, and M T.A. Saif, "A Novel Method for In Situ Uniaxial Tests at Micro/Nano Scale–Part II: Experiment," Journal of MicroElectroMechanicalSystems, Vol 19(6), pp1322-1330, Nov 2010.
• Kang, W. and M.T.A. Saif, "A Novel Method for In Situ Uniaxial Tests at Micro/Nano Scale–Part I: Theory," Journal of MicroElectroMechanicalSystems, Vol 19(6), pp1309-1321, Nov 2010.
• Rajagopalan, J., A. Tofangchi, and M. T. A. Saif, "Drosophila Neurons Actively Regulate Tension in their Axons in Vivo," Biophysical Journal, 99(10) pp. 3208 – 3215, 17 November 2010.
• Tang, X., T. B. Kuhlenschmidt, M. S. Kuhlenschmidt, and M. T. A. Saif, "Mechanical Force Affects Expression of an In vitro Metastasis-like Phenotype in HCT-8 cells," Biophysical Journal, Volume 99, Issue 8, 2460-2469, 20 October 2010. (Cover article)
• Rajagopalana, J., C. Rentenbergerb, H. P. Karnthalerb, G. Dehmc, and M. T. A. Saif, "In situ TEM Study of Microplasticity and Bauschinger Effect in Nanocrystalline Metals," Acta Materialia, Volume 58, Issue 14, Pages 4772-4782, August 2010.
• Eberl, C. and T. Saif, "In Situ Mechanical Testing of Biological and Inorganic Materials at the Micro- and Nanoscales," MRS Bulletin, Volume 35, No. 5, May 2010.
• Ahmed, W. W., M. H. Kural, and T. Saif, "A Novel Platform for in situ Investigation of Cells and Tissues under Mechanical Strain," Acta Biomaterialia, 6(8):2979-90, August 2010. Epub 2010 Feb 25.
• Ahmed, W., T. Wolfram, A. Goldyn, K. Bruellhoff, B. Aragues Rioja, M. Moller, J.P. Spatz, M. T. A. Saif, J. Groll, and R. Kemkemer, "Myoblast Morphology and Organization on Biochemically Micro-patterned Hydrogel Coatings under Cyclic Mechanical Strain," Biomaterials 31: 250-8, 2010.
• Siechen, S., S. Yang, A. Chiba, and T. Saif, "Mechanical Tension Contributes to Clustering of Neurotransmitter Vesicles at Presynaptic Terminals," Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 106:31, 12611-12616, August 4, 2009.
• Rajagopalan, J., J. H. Han, and M. T. A. Saif, “Bauschinger Effect in Unpassivated Freestanding Nanoscale Metal Films,” Scripta Materialia, 59, 734-737, 2008.
• Rajagopalan, J., J. H. Han, and M. T. A. Saif, “On Plastic Strain Recovery in Freestanding Nanocrystalline Metal Thin Films,” Scripta Materialia, 59, 921-926, 2008. Invited Article.
• Yang, S., and M. T. A. Saif, “Microfabricated Force Sensors and Their Applications in the Study of Cell Mechanical Response,” Experimental Mechanics, 49:1, 135-151, 2008. Invited Article.
• Rajagopalan, J., J. H. Han, and M. T. A. Saif, “Bauschinger Effect in Unpassivated Freestanding Nanoscale Metal Films,” Scripta Materialia, 59:7, 734-737, 2008.
• Yang, Shengyuan, and M. T. A. Saif, “Force Response and Action Remodeling (Agglomeration) in Fibroblasts Due to Lateral Indentation,” Acta Biomaterialia, 3:1, 77-78, 2007.
• Yang, S. and M. T. A. Saif, “MEMS Based Force Sensors for the Study of Indentation Response of Single Living Cells,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 135:1, 16-22, 2007.
• Rajagopalan, J. and M. T. A. Saif, “A Single Degree of Freedom Model for Thermoelastic Damping,” Journal of Applied Mechanics (ASME Transactions), 74:3, 461-468, May 2007.
• Rajagopalan, J. and M. T. A. Saif, “Single Degree of Freedom Model for Thermoelasticity,” Journal of Applied Mechanics-Transactions of the ASME,” 74:3, 461-468, May 2007.
• ! Rajagopalan, J., J. Han, and M. T. A. Saif, “Plastic Deformation Recovery in Freestanding Nanocrystalline Aluminum and Gold Thin Films,” Science, 315, 1831-1834, March 2007.
• Mani, S. and T. Saif, “Stress Development in PECVD Silicon Dioxide Thin-Films Due to Hydrogen Evolution,” This Solid Films, 515:5, 3120-3125, 2007.
• Han, J. H., and M. T. A. Saif, “In-situ Microtensile Stage for Electromechanical Characterization of Nanoscale Freestanding Films,” Review of Scientific Instruments, 77:4, 45102-1-8, April 2006.
• Mani, Sathya, Taher Saif, and Jong H. Han, “Effect of Annealing on the Conductivity of Electroless Deposited Ni Nanowires and Films,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, 5:2, 138-141, March 2006.
• Meinhart, M., N. R. Miller, and M. T. A. Saif, “Dry Stiction of Micro Structures – Theory and Experiment,” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A, 462, 567-585, 2006.
• Mani, S., M. T. A. Saif, and J. Han, “Effect of Annealing on the Conductivity of Ni Nanowires and Films,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, 5:2, 138-141, 2006.
• Mani, S. and T. M. A. Saif, “Mechanism of Controlled Crack Formation in Thin-Film Dielectrics,” Applied Physics Letters, 86, 201903, 2005 (available online).
• Hattar, K., J. Han, M. T. A. Saif, and I. M. Robertson, “In-situ TEM Observation of Toughening Mechanism in Ultra-Fine Grained Columnar Aluminum Thin Films,” Journal of Materials Research (In-situ Focus Issue), 20:7, 1869-1877, 2005.
• Yang, S. and T. Saif, “Micromachined Force Sensors for the Study of Cell Mechanics,” Review of Scientific Instruments, 76, 044301, 2005. Also selected for publication in the April 1, 2005 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research.
• Yang, S. and T. Saif, “Reversible and Repeatable Linear Local Cell Force Response Under Large Stretches,” Experimental Cell Research, 305, 42-50, 2005.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “In-situ Tensile Testing of Nanoscale Freestanding Thin Films Inside a Transmission Electron Microscope,” Journal of Materials Research (In-situ Focus Issue), 20:7, 1769-1777, July 2005.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Nano-Scale Freestanding Aluminum Films,” Thin Solid Films, 484, 364-368, 2005.
• Bauer, J. M., T. A. Saif, and D. J. Beebe, “Liquid Phase Construction of Microstructures,” Journal of MEMS, 13:4, 553-558, August 2004.
• Haque, A. and T. Saif, “Micro Instrumentation for Studying Mechanical Properties of Free Standing Films,”JOM, 56:11, 308, November 2004.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Deformation Mechanisms in Free-standing Nano-scale Thin Films: A Quantitative In-situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Study,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 101:17, 6335-6340, April 2004.
• Bauer, J. M., T. A. Saif, and D. J. Beebe, “Surface Tension Driven Formation of Microstructures,” Journal MEMS, 13:4, 553-558, August 2004.
• Saif, T., “Scaling the Depth,” Mechanical Engineering, 126:4, 2004 (invited article).
• Alaca, B. E., H. Sehitoglu, and T. Saif, “Guided Self-Assembly of Metallic Nanowires and Channels,” Applied Physics Letters, 84:23, 4669-4671, June 2004.
• Sulfridge, M., T. Saif, N. Miller, and M. Meinhart, “Nonlinear Dynamic Study of a Bistable MEMS: Model and Experiment,” J. MEMS, 13:5, 725-731, October 2004.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Strain Gradient Effect in Nanoscale Thin Films,” Acta Materialia, 51, 3053-3061, 2003.
• Saif, M. T. A., C. R. Sager, and S. Coyer, “Functionalized Biomicroelectromechanical Systems Sensor for Force Response Study at Local Adhesion Sites of Single Living Cells on a Substrate,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 31:8, 950-961, 2003.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “A Review of MEMS-Based Microscale and Nanoscale Tensile and Bending Testing,” Special Issue of Experimental Mechanics, 43:3, 248-255, September 2003.
• Saif, T. and A. Haque, “Mechanical Behavior of Nano Scale Thin Films Using MEMS Sensors,” International Journal of Computational Engineering Sciences, 4:2, 169-173, June 2003.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Mechanical Behavior of 30-50 nm Thick Aluminum Films Under Uniaxial Tension,” Scripta Materialia, 47, 863-867, 2002.
• Alaca, B. E., J. C. Selby, M. T. A. Saif, and H. Sehitoglu, “Biaxial Testing of Nanoscale Films on Compliant Substrates: Fatigue and Fracture,” Reviews of Scientific Instruments, 73, 2963-70, 2002.
• Saif, T. A., “On the Capillary Interaction Between Solid Plates Forming Menisci on the Surface of a Liquid,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 473, 321-347, 2002.
• Saif, M. T. A., S. Zhang, M. A. Haque, and K. J. Hsia, “Effect of Native Oxide on the Elastic Response of Nanoscale AL Films,” Acta Materialia, 50:11, 2779-2786, 2002.
• Sulfridge, M., T. Saif, N. Miller, and K. O‘Hara, “Optical Actuation of a Bistable MEMS,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 11:5, 574-583, October 2002.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Application of MEMS Force Sensors for In-Situ Mechanical Characterization of Nano-Scale Thin Films in SEM and TEM,” Sensors and Actuators A, 97-98, 239-245, 2002.
• Xue, Z., M. T. A. Saif, and Y. Huang, “The Strain Gradient Effect in Micro-Electromechanical-Systems (MEMS),” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 11:1, 27-35, 2002.
• Alaca B. E., M. T. A. Saif, and H. Sehitoglu, “On the Interface Debond at the Edge of a Thin Film on a Thick Substrate,” Acta Materialia, 50, 1197-1209, 2002.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “In-situ Tensile Testing of Nano-scale Specimens in SEM and TEM,” Journal of The Society for Experimental Mechanics, 42:1, 123-128, 2002.
• Haque, M. A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Microscale Materials Testing Using MEMS Actuators,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 10:1, 146-152, 2001.
• Saif, M. T. A., “On a Tunable Bistable MEMS-Theory and Experiment,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 9:2, 157-170, June 2000.
• Saif, M. T. A., B. E. Alaca, and H. Sehitoglu, “Analytical Modeling of Electrostatic Membrane Actuator for Micro Pumps,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 8:3, 335-345, September 1999.
• Saif, M. T. A. and N. C. MacDonald, “Microinstruments for Submicron Material Studies,” Journal of Materials Research, 13:12, 3353-3356, December 1998.
• Saif, M. T. A. and N. C. MacDonald, “Measurement of Forces and Spring Constants of Microinstruments,” Review of Scientific Instruments, 69:3, 1410-1422, March 1998.
• MacDonald, N. C., S. G. Adams, A. A. Ayon, K. F. Bohringer, L.-Y. Chen, J. H. Das, D. Haronian, W. Hofmann, X. T. Huang, A. Jazairy, R. E. Mihailovich, S. A. Miller, I. Ogo, R. Prasad, B. W. Reed, M. T. A. Saif, K. A. Shaw, R. Y. Webb, and Y. Xu, “Micromachined Microdevices and Microinstruments,” Microelectronic Engineering, 30, 563-564, 1996.
• Saif, M. T. A. and N. C. MacDonald, “Planarity of Large MEMS,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 5:2, 79-97, June 1996.
• Saif, M. T. A. and N. C. MacDonald, “A Millinewton Microloading Device,” Sensors and Actuators A, 52, 65-75, May 1996.
• Saif, M. Taher A. and C.-Y. Hui, “Plane Strain Asymptotic Fields of a Crack Growing along an Elastic-Elastic Power-law Creeping Bi-Material Interface,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 42:2, 181-214, February 1994.
• Hui, C.-Y. and M. T. A. Saif, “Asymptotic Stress Field of a Mode III Crack Growing Along an Elastic/Elastic Power-Law Creeping Bimaterial Interface,” Journal of Applied Mechanics, 61, 384-389, June 1994.
• Saif, M. T. A., C. Y. Hui, and A. T. Zehnder, “Interface Shear Stresses Induced by Non-uniform Heating of a Film on a Substrate,” Thin Solid Films, 224:2, 159-167, March 1993.
• Saif, M. T. A. and C-Y. Hui, “Near Tip Fields for a Stationary Mode III Crack Between a Linear Elastic and an Elastic Power Law Hardening Material,” International Journal of Fracture, 64:1, 1-26, November 1993.
• Glaucio, P. H., M. T. A. Saif, and S. Mukherjee, “A Finite Elastic Body with a Curved Crack Loaded in Anti-Plane Shear,” International Journal of Solids and Structures, 30:8, 1015-1037, 1993.
• Grigoriu, M., M. T. A. Saif, S. El Borgi, and A. R. Ingraffea, “Mixed Mode Fracture Initiation and Trajectory Prediction Under Random Stresses,” International Journal of Fracture, 45, 19-34, September 1990.
• Grigoriu, M. and M. T. A. Saif, “Fatigue Analysis of Cracked Anisotropic Plates Subject to Stochastic Loads,” Computers and Structures, 37:2, 169-173, 1990.

Patents

• Kang, W. and T. Saif, "Apparatus and Method for In Situ Testing of Microscale and Nanoscale Samples," US Patent No. 9019512B2, April 28, 2015.
• Rajagopalan, J. and M.T.A Saif, “High Aspect Ratio Polymer Elongate And One-Dimensional Microstructure Fabrication,” US 2014/0127508, May 8, 2014.
• Kang, W. and T. Saif, "Apparatus and Method for In Situ Testing of Microscale and Nanoscale Samples," US Patent 20,110,317,157, 2011.
• Han, J., M. T. A. Saif, and M. D. Uchic, "Apparatus and Method for Material Testing of Microscale and Nanoscale Samples," US Patent no: 7,752,916 B2, July 13, 2010.
• Haque, A. and M. T. A. Saif, “Tensile Testing of Submicron Scale Freestanding Specimens in SEM and TEM,” U.S. Patent No. 6,817,255 B2, Nov. 16, 2004
• Saif, M. T. A., and N. C. MacDonald, “Micromotion Amplification Based Sensors,” U.S. Patent No. 6,183,097 B1, Feb. 6, 2001
• Saif, M. T. A., T. Huang, and N. C. MacDonald, “Micromotion Amplifier,” U.S. Patent No. 5,862,003, Jan. 19, 1999
• Saif, M. T. A., and N. C. MacDonald, “Microelectromechanical Integrated Micro Loading Device,” U.S. Patent No. 5,786,621, July 28, 1998

Teaching Honors

• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students, Fall 2022, Spring, Fall 2023, Spring 2024 teaching, Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, UIUC
• College of Engineering Outstanding Advisors list, 2009
• MechSE Alumni Effective Teaching Award, 2006
• Listed in the Daily Illini “Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students” for Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2006.
• GE Scholar, UIUC, 1998
• Ralph Bolgiano, Sr. Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Cornell University, UIUC, 1991

Research Honors

• Member, National Academy of Engineering, 2024.
• Fellow, AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 2023
• Engineering Science Medal, Society of Engineering Science, 2020
• Warner T. Koiter Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2018
• Member, International Advisory Board, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2016-
• Member, Board of Directors, Society of Engineering Science, 2012-2016
• President, Society of Engineering Science, 2016
• Visiting Professor, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, May 23 - June 22, 2011
• Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2011
• Member of UIUC panel evaluating the academic engineering program of Jubail Industrial & University Colleges of the Royal Commission, Jubail, Saudi Arabia, 2011
• Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Center, Infectious Disease Inter-disciplinary Research Group, 2010-2013
• Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor, UIUC, 2010-date
• Willett Faculty Scholar Award, College of Engineering, UIUC, 2003-2009
• Xerox Award for Faculty Research (5 years), College of Engineering, (UIUC), 2006
• Associate, Center for Advanced Study, UIUC, 2004-2005
• NSF Invited Member, U.S.-Japan Young Researchers’ Exchange Program for Nanotechnology, Sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation and Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2003 in U.S., and Nov. 5-13, 2003 in Japan.
• Xerox Award for Faculty Research (2 years), College of Engineering, UIUC, 2003
• Who’s Who in Engineering Education, 2002
• Strathmore’s Who’s Who, 2002-2005
• GE Scholar, 1998
• NSF Faculty Early Development (CAREER) Award, 1998