Weiyi Qian

Biography

2026-Present
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2020-2026
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Cell Biology
NYU Grossman School of Medicine

2014-2019
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Education

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, New York University, 2019
• BS, Material Physics, Wuhan University, 2014 

Research

The Qian Lab investigates the multiscale mechanobiology of tissue morphogenesis. We seek to understand how cells and tissues generate, sense, and respond to chemical and mechanical signals; how these signals integrate with molecular and genetic programs to build functional organs; and how their disruption contributes to disease. A central goal of our research is to connect mechanics across scales—from cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion to tissue-level forces and organ architecture. We use zebrafish as a primary model system because its optical accessibility and genetic tractability enable quantitative imaging, biophysical measurements, and precise manipulation of mechanical processes in living embryos. Our interdisciplinary approach integrates zebrafish genetics, live imaging, targeted protein perturbations, optogenetics, and quantitative biophysical measurements. Current work focuses on the cellular, molecular, and physical mechanisms that govern the formation of sensory organ and the brain. Our long-term goal is to establish fundamental principles of how mechanical forces shape functional organ architecture and apply these insights to developmental disorders, human disease, and regenerative medicine.

Areas of Expertise

• Tissue Morphogenesis
• Mechanobiology
• Biomechanics
• Quantitative Live Imaging

Awards and Recognitions

• NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, NICHD, 2023–Present
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2022–2023
• New York State Stem Cell Science (NYSTEM) Training Grant, 2021–2022
• Outstanding Graduating Student Award, Wuhan University, 2014
• National Scholarship of China, Wuhan University, 2013 

Publications

For a complete list of recent publications, see Google Scholar.