Sara Hassanpour Tamrin

I am a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary (UCalgary). I hold a BSc in Biomedical-Biomaterials Engineering (2010) and a Master’s degree in Tissue Engineering (2012), where my research focused on stem cell bioprocessing and regenerative medicine. From 2012 to 2017, I worked as a research scientist, developing synthetic biology tools to advance cell-based therapies. In 2023, I completed my PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UCalgary, where I developed a novel separation technology (patented in 2023) to purify lipid-based biological nanoparticles derived from mammalian stem cells (Link to UCalgary News)[1]. During my postdoctoral studies, I was recognized as an early-stage innovator for developing a bioinspired sensor for patient-oriented liquid biopsy technology (Link to UCalgary News)[2]. Passionate about equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in research, I am currently developing an EDIA toolkit supported by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund to promote inclusive research practices in engineering (Link to UCalgary News)[3]. I envision a future where engineering solutions focus not only on technological innovation but also on the people they serve. I recently received UCalgary’s 2025 EDIA Postdoctoral Award for integrating EDIA principles into my research on bioactive nanoparticles from adult stem cells and raising awareness of the importance of EDIA in biomedical research. My commitment to open science communication and knowledge mobilization has been acknowledged with several honors, including the Engineering Faculty Award for Best Presentation (UCalgary, 2021), 1st Place in Innovate Calgary’s Evolve to Innovate Pitch (UCalgary, 2024) and 1st Place in the Falling Walls Lab Edmonton (UAlberta, 2024)[4].

[1] https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/news/schulich-phd-student-aims-harness-opportunities-exosomes
[2] https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/ceremony-celebrates-success-early-stage-innovators
[3] https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/graduate-postdoctoral-researchers-explore-ways-change-attitudes-energy
[4] https://falling-walls.com/de/foundation/people/sara-hassanpour-tamrin