Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
LANGUAGES
Certification
Publications
CONFERENCES
Timeline
Generic

Sabra Rostami Ph.D.

Montreal,Canada

Summary

Biomedical scientist experienced in biomaterials and tissue engineering, specializing in scaffold design, organoid and spheroid culture, cell–material interactions, and advanced fabrication. Skilled in microfluidics, mechanobiology, and engineering tissue microenvironments using microtechnologies to create platforms bridging fundamental research and translational applications. Eager to explore new scientific directions in bioprinting, applying expertise to advance pioneering applications in this emerging field.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Postdoctoral Researcher

McGill University
09.2022 - Current
  • Designed and conducted studies on hydrogel-induced mechanical stresses affecting the growth and maturation of human organoids and cancer spheroids, revealing insights into how microenvironmental forces influence morphology and differentiation, with direct implications for bioink and tissue-specific hydrogel design.
  • Collaborated on projects involving collagen extraction from decellularized sea cucumber and the development of a novel biosensor to measure electrical activity in brain organoids.
  • McGill Regenerative Medicine (MRM) Committee Member - Coordinated the Annual MRM Symposium (2024, 2025), promoting departmental engagement and scientific exchange.
  • Mentored PhD, MSc, and junior researchers, supporting skill development and career growth.
  • Troubleshot equipment and refined experimental protocols to overcome technical challenges.
  • Contributed critical insights to high-impact publications through collaborative research.
  • Presented findings at international conferences, promoting scientific exchange.
  • Organized departmental seminars and workshops to foster knowledge sharing.
  • Pursued independent and complementary research projects.
  • Managed laboratory safety protocols, ensuring a secure research environment.

Researcher

Boğaziçi University
06.2014 - 01.2022
  • Drafted and secured a competitive research grant, then managed the project budget and led the full research cycle — from experimental design and execution to authoring the final report, collaborating with the technology transfer office on a patent application draft, and authored resulting publications.
  • Collaboratively led the design and fabrication of bone-surface–mimicked chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposites and co-authored the subsequent publication.
  • Conceptualized a study on plant decellularization for biomedical and tissue engineering applications, developed and refined experimental protocols, and supported the M.Sc. student through training and mentorship as they carried the project forward, resulting in a co-authored peer-reviewed publication.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative research methodologies, broadening the scope and impact of projects.
  • Managed laboratory equipment and resources, ensuring maintenance, optimal functionality, and safety compliance.
  • Streamlined project workflows by implementing detailed scheduling and tracking systems, improving team efficiency.
  • Assisted in creating a positive work environment by resolving conflicts between my peers when necessary while encouraging open communication channels among all parties involved.
  • Coordinated collaborative projects with external research partners, ensuring seamless integration.
  • Led and supported laboratory projects and experiments, providing guidance to junior staff.
  • Troubleshot and resolved equipment and process issues to maintain smooth operations.
  • Maintained organized research materials and workspaces to promote productivity.

Education

Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering

Boğaziçi University
Istanbul, TURKEY
05-2022

Master of Science - Biomedical Engineering

Boğaziçi University
Istanbul, TURKEY
09-2016

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering

Sahand University of Technology
Iran
09-2012

Skills

  • Conceptualization, experimental design and protocol development
  • Grant and academic article writing
  • In-vitro 2D and 3D (spheroids and organoids) tissue models
  • 3D Scaffold design and fabrication
  • Microscopy (confocal, fluorescence, SEM, BF)
  • Mammalian cell culture (hiPSCs, primary cells, immortalized cells, immune cells)
  • In-vivo animal experiments
  • Clean room experience
  • Microfluidics and 3D printing
  • Microbiology
  • Material Characterization

LANGUAGES

English
Full Professional
Farsi
Native or Bilingual
Azeri
Native or Bilingual
Turkish
Full Professional
French
Elementary

Certification

Awards

  • Surface Innovations Prize | Sep 2023, Journal Prize for Best Paper in Journal 2023, ICE Publishing Awards for 'The Evolution of Anti-bacterial and Anti-biofouling Properties of Sharkskin Patterned Surfaces (DOI: 10.1680/jsuin.21.00055)

Grants

  • European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Scientific Exchange Grants (8.000 Euros) | December 2020 (Declined due to COVID-19 Pandemic travel bans)
  • Scientific Research Grant | Apr 2018 - Dec 2019 | Amount: 200,000 TL (~55.000 CAD) | Grant No. 117R055: Development of Biodegradable Antibacterial Sheaths to Prevent Infection for Pacemakers. Supervised by Prof. Bora Garipcan | Awarded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) |

Certifications

  • PCR Workshop, ELIPS LTD., Istanbul, Turkey | Mar 2017
  • Animal Experimentation and Handling, Istanbul, Turkey | Feb 2014

Publications

Articles

  • Camille Cassel de Camps, Sabra Rostami, Vanessa Xu, Chen Li, Paula Lépine, Thomas M. Durcan, Christopher Moraes. Microfabricated dynamic brain organoid cocultures to assess the effects of surface geometry on assembloid formation. Biotechnology Journal, Aug 2024.
  • Prabu Karthick Parameshwar, Chen Li, Kaline Arnauts, Junqing Jiang, Sabra Rostami, Benjamin E. Campbell, Hongyan Lu, Derek H. Rosenzweig, Cathy Vaillancourt, Christopher Moraes. Directed biomechanical compressive forces enhance fusion efficiency in model placental trophoblast cultures. Scientific Reports, May 2024.
  • Fatih Puza, Sabra Rostami, Merve Birgün Özçolak-Aslan, Sedat Odabaş, Klaus D. Jandt, Bora Garipcan. Anisotropic bone surface topography mimicked chitosan/graphene oxide membranes. Advanced Engineering Materials, Aug 2022.
  • Sabra Rostami, Bora Garipcan. Evolution of antibacterial and antibiofouling properties of sharkskin-patterned surfaces. Surface Innovations, May 2022.
  • Sabra Rostami, Ahmet Ilker Tekkesin, Utku Kürşat Ercan, Bora Garipcan. Biomimetic sharkskin surfaces with antibacterial, cytocompatible, and drug delivery properties. Materials Science and Engineering, Feb 2022.
  • Sabra Rostami, Fatih Puza, Meltem Ucak, Erdogan Ozgur, Ozgur Gul, Utku Kursat Ercan, Bora Garipcan. Bifunctional sharkskin mimicked chitosan/graphene oxide membranes: Reduced biofilm formation and improved cytocompatibility. Applied Surface Science, Jan 2021.
  • Melis Toker, Sabra Rostami, Muge Kesici, Ozgur Gul, Ozgur Kocaturk, Sedat Odabas, Bora Garipcan. Decellularization and characterization of leek: A potential cellulose-based biomaterial. Cellulose, Jun 2020.

Patents

  • Patent PCT/TR2022/050299 (submitted) Garipcan, B., Tekkesin A.I., Rostami S. “IMPLANTE EDILEBILIR KALP PILLERI ICIN BIR KILIF”; 2022

Book Chapters

  • Rostami S., Garipcan B. (2018) Rheological Properties of Biological Structures, Scaffolds and Their Biomedical Applications. In: Artmann G., Artmann A., Zhubanova A., Digel I (eds) Biological, Physical and Technical Basics of Cell Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7904-7_5
  • Rostami S., Garipcan B. (2019) Graphene Oxide: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications. In Nanomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications Palme Publishing House, ISBN: 978-975-491-470-0

CONFERENCES

  • Oral Presentation: International Conference on Biofabrication, Fukuoka, Japan (2024) – unable to attend due to delays in visa issuance
  • Oral Presentation: Canadian Biomaterials Society (CBS), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (2023)
  • Poster Presentation: The Scandinavian Society for Biomaterials (ScSB) Virtual Conference (2021)
  • Oral Presentation: 5th EuroBioMat, Weimar, Germany (2019)
  • Poster Presentation: 3rd Euro Bio-Inspired Materials, Potsdam, Germany (2016)

Timeline

Postdoctoral Researcher

McGill University
09.2022 - Current

Researcher

Boğaziçi University
06.2014 - 01.2022

Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering

Boğaziçi University

Master of Science - Biomedical Engineering

Boğaziçi University

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering

Sahand University of Technology
Sabra Rostami Ph.D.