Dr. Michelle Oyen is a distinguished researcher at the forefront of biomedical engineering with a specialized focus on women's health applications. Currently serving as Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University, she brings over eighteen years of international academic experience to her role. Her educational foundation includes a BS in Materials Science and Engineering, MS in Engineering Mechanics, and PhD in Biophysical Sciences from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota. Prior to her current position, she established herself as a leading figure in bioengineering during her twelve-year tenure at the University of Cambridge, where she rose from Lecturer to Reader in Bioengineering while serving as a Fellow of Homerton College. Her return to the United States in 2018 led to faculty appointments at East Carolina University and served as Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis from January 2022 to September 2024 before joining Wayne State University, where she continues to advance innovative research at the intersection of engineering and reproductive health.
Dr. Oyen has pioneered engineering approaches to understanding pregnancy biomechanics and preventing preterm birth, with over twenty-five years of dedicated research in the field. Her work on the physical properties of reproductive tissues has significantly advanced the development of computational models and digital twins for pregnancy, creating new pathways for diagnosis and intervention. She has made substantial contributions to understanding the biomechanics of the uterine-placental interface, developing microstructural fracture models that explain mechanisms of preterm birth. Her research innovations include machine learning applications for clinical ultrasound imaging analysis and multi-scale modeling of placenta transport function, which have potential to transform clinical approaches to high-risk pregnancies. By applying materials science principles to complex biological problems, Dr. Oyen's work bridges fundamental engineering concepts with pressing clinical needs in women's health.
As a recognized leader in the women's health and engineering community, Dr. Oyen has been instrumental in organizing researchers and clinicians across the United States and globally to advance bioengineering approaches to reproductive health challenges. She actively contributes to establishing new research directions through her development of digital twins for C-section scar pregnancy and continued refinement of computational models for pregnancy assessment. Her commitment to education is evident in her teaching of biomechanics and specialized courses in engineering for women's health, training the next generation of biomedical engineers to address critical gaps in healthcare. Dr. Oyen's leadership extends to her professional affiliations with BMES, SRI, and AIMBE, where she continues to shape the conversation about engineering solutions for women's health issues. Currently expanding her research at Wayne State University, she is positioned to make further transformative contributions that could significantly improve pregnancy outcomes and address longstanding disparities in women's healthcare.
