{"id":124,"date":"2025-04-23T16:14:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T20:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/?page_id=124"},"modified":"2025-09-29T15:12:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:12:41","slug":"elizabeth-barker","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/","title":{"rendered":"Elizabeth Barker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">Elizabeth Barker<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0\"><em><em>Assistant Professor<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-columns-reverse alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading orange-mark\">Biography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>August 2017<strong> \u2013 <\/strong>present<\/strong><br>Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>August 2014<strong> \u2013 <\/strong>August 2017<\/strong><br>Lecturer, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>April 2015<strong> \u2013 <\/strong>present<\/strong><br>Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>December 2014 \u2013 present<\/strong><br>Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 15%;height: 16px;margin-bottom: 24px;border-bottom: 6px solid #ff8200\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PhD, 2014, Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences- Molecular Therapeutics and Cell Signaling Track, University of Tennessee Health Science Center<br>Dissertation:&nbsp;<em>Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Polysaccharide Hydrogel for Local Chemotherapy Delivery to Solid Tumors<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MS, 2007, Polymer Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville<br>Thesis:&nbsp;<em>The Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Polysaccharide Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications Including the Treatment of Malignant Tumors and the Prevention of Metastatic Disease<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BS, 2004, Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 15%;height: 16px;margin-bottom: 24px;border-bottom: 6px solid #ff8200\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>My research leverages interdisciplinary scientific knowledge of device design, biomaterials engineering, and polymer characterization. My research career is focused on designing and developing novel polymer materials for implant devices and drug delivery, and I intend to commercialize my laboratory findings for use in the clinical setting. My goal is to be a link between engineering and medicine and to contribute to the care of others as a research scientist dedicated to the development of medical devices that physicians can use to improve the lives of their patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 15%;height: 16px;margin-bottom: 24px;border-bottom: 6px solid #ff8200\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professional Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Career Mentor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>College of Engineering WomEngineer&#8217;s Leadership Council<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neuroscience Network of East Tennessee, NeuroNET<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University of Tennessee Cancer Community of Scholars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American Society for Engineering Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biomedical Engineering Society<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Society for&nbsp;Biomaterials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 15%;height: 16px;margin-bottom: 24px;border-bottom: 6px solid #ff8200\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Awards and Recognitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nominated for Chancellor\u2019s Excellence in Teaching Award, Fall 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nominated for College of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award, Spring 2017<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nominated for the ASEE Mara H. Washburn Early Engineering Educator Grant, Spring 2017<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 15%;height: 16px;margin-bottom: 24px;border-bottom: 6px solid #ff8200\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a complete list of recent publications, see <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=-Pc9zUQAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\">Google Scholar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>R.C. Pack, E.D. Barker, B.L. Armstrong, C.J. Rawn, B.G. Compton<em>.&nbsp;<\/em>Characterization of Stainless Steel and Hydroxyapatite Powders for Additive Manufacturing of Composite Craniomaxillofacial Implants.&nbsp;<em>Biomedical Engineering Society<\/em>, Minneapolis, MN; October 8, 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>R.L. Slappy, B.J. Ramshaw, E.D. Barker, S.A. Grant.&nbsp; Varying Levels of Degradation in Synthetic Polymers<em>&nbsp;In Vivo, Biomedical Engineering Society<\/em>, Minneapolis, MN; October 8, 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E.D. Barker<em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em>A Strategy for Improving Drug Penetration in Solid Tumors.<em>&nbsp;University of Tennessee Cancer Community of Scholars Symposium<\/em>, February 25, 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E.D. Barker<em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em>Local Chemotherapy Delivery to Brain Tumors using Amygel.&nbsp;<em>Richard Lende Winter Neurosurgery Conference<\/em>, Snowbird, UT; January 30-February 3, 2015<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E.D. Barker.&nbsp; Improving Treatment of Pediatric Brain Tumors Using Amygel.&nbsp;<em>East Tennessee Children\u2019s Hospital, Department of Surgery<\/em>, December 2, 2014<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E.D. Barker.&nbsp; Improving Chemotherapy Tissue Penetration Using Local Drug Delivery of Lipphilic Compounds.&nbsp;<em>Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biology and Soft Matter Division<\/em>, September 11, 2014<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E.D. Barker.&nbsp; Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Polysaccharide Hydrogel for Local Chemotherapy Delivery to Solid Tumors.&nbsp;<em>16th Annual Ed Cocke Research Symposium University of Tennessee Department of Otolaryngology,<\/em>&nbsp;Memphis, TN; June 19, 2014<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Patent Applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E. Barker, US 20100331232&nbsp;<em>Starch-based Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E. Barker, US 20110165243&nbsp;<em>Concurrent Delivery of Multiple Therapeutic Agents via Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E. Barker, US 20120322718&nbsp;<em>Amygels in Organic Solvent for Biomedical Applications<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column pull-right is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull utkwds-stack-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-dbf27b9b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column utkwds-stack has-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-146c2e40 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-style:none;border-top-width:0px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg\" alt=\"Libby Barker\" class=\"wp-image-129\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-bottom-width:5px;aspect-ratio:2\/3;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg 400w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4c0ddf3a wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Contact Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>312 Dougherty Engineering Bldg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Phone<\/strong><br>865-974-8068<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Email<br><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:ebarker1@vols.utk.edu\">ebarker1@vols.utk.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elizabeth Barker Assistant Professor Biography August 2017 \u2013 presentAssistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee August 2014 \u2013 August 2017Lecturer, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee April 2015 \u2013 presentAdjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine December 2014 \u2013 presentResearch [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":60,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"no-title","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-124","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Elizabeth Barker Assistant Professor Biography August 2017 \u2013 presentAssistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee August 2014 \u2013 August 2017Lecturer, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee April 2015 \u2013 presentAdjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine December 2014 \u2013 presentResearch [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Department of Biomedical Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T19:12:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/\",\"name\":\"Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Libby-Barker.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-23T20:14:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-29T19:12:41+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Libby-Barker.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Libby-Barker.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Libby Barker\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/elizabeth-barker\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Faculty\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/faculty\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Elizabeth Barker\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/\",\"name\":\"Department of Biomedical Engineering\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/bme\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering","og_description":"Elizabeth Barker Assistant Professor Biography August 2017 \u2013 presentAssistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee August 2014 \u2013 August 2017Lecturer, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee April 2015 \u2013 presentAdjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine December 2014 \u2013 presentResearch [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/","og_site_name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering","article_modified_time":"2025-09-29T19:12:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":400,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/","name":"Elizabeth Barker - Department of Biomedical Engineering","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg","datePublished":"2025-04-23T20:14:45+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-29T19:12:41+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Libby-Barker.jpg","width":400,"height":600,"caption":"Libby Barker"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/elizabeth-barker\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Faculty","item":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/faculty\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Elizabeth Barker"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/#website","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/","name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/124\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}