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Engineering

NSF CAREER Award supports pursuit of ‘soft’ solutions for spinal cord injuries

Engineering science and mechanics researcher Tao Zhou to develop stretchy, injectable hydrogel electrodes to treat spinal cord injuries

Tao Zhou, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, received a five-year, $660,000 CAREER award from the U.S. National Science Foundation to develop stretchy, injectable hydrogel electrodes to treat spinal cord injuries. Credit: Poornima Tomy / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tao Zhou, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics and of biomedical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, earned a five-year, $660,000 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for a project titled, "Soft Solutions for Spinal Cord Injury: Advancing with Injectable and Stretchable Hydrogel Electrodes.”  

Zhou — who is a co-hire with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute as part of the Center for Neural Engineering — discussed his goals for the project in the Q&A below.  

Q: What do you want to understand or solve through this project?  

Zhou: This project seeks to overcome the limitations of current spinal cord stimulation technologies by developing injectable, stretchable hydrogel-based electrodes that are biocompatible, flexible and capable of stable long-term integration with spinal tissue. Specifically, it aims to enable direct and precise stimulation of motor neurons without causing additional tissue damage in patients. The ultimate goal is to advance spinal cord injury therapies by providing a safer, more effective solution for restoring motor function in individuals with spinal cord injuries. 

Q: How will advances in this area impact society? 

Zhou: This research has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries by providing innovative technologies that can restore motor function and independence. The development of minimally invasive, hydrogel-based electrodes will reduce surgical risks, health care costs and recovery times — making spinal cord therapies more accessible and safer for patients. Additionally, the educational components of the project will inspire and train the next generation of scientists and engineers, particularly from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, contributing to a more inclusive and skilled workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. 

Q: Will undergraduate or graduate students contribute to this research? How?  

Zhou: Both undergraduate and graduate students will actively contribute to this research. Graduate students will play a key role in advancing the technologies involved in this project, while undergraduate students will participate in a neural engineering club that I plan to establish at Penn State, where they will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in neural engineering. These experiences will provide students with valuable interdisciplinary skills and prepare them for future careers in neural engineering and related fields. 

Q: The NSF CAREER award not only funds a research project, but it also recognizes the potential of the recipient as a researcher, educator and leader in their field. How do you hope to fulfill that potential? 

Zhou: I aim to fulfill this potential by contributing groundbreaking research to the field of neural engineering while inspiring and training future scientists and engineers. Through this project, I will advance knowledge in neural engineering and develop novel technologies with significant societal benefits. As an educator, I will establish both a neural engineering club for undergraduates as well as outreach programs for K-12 students designed to broaden their participation in STEM. These activities are designed to foster an inclusive environment and encourage students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in science and engineering. By integrating research and education, I aspire to lead impactful innovations in neural engineering while mentoring the next generation of leaders in this interdisciplinary field. 

Last Updated January 23, 2025

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