Vivek Sharma Defends Dissertation on the Multiscale Mechanical Regulation of Tumor Progression

Vivek Sharma has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, “Multiscale Mechanical Regulation of Tumor Progression Across Scales,” under the supervision of Vivek Shenoy, Eduardo D. Glandt President’s Distinguished Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. His research combines mechanics, cancer biology, computational modeling, image analysis and artificial intelligence to better understand how physical forces influence cancer progression across multiple biological scales.

Cancer is not driven by genetics alone. Mechanical forces within and around tumors also shape how cancer cells migrate, interact with the immune system and respond to their environment. In his dissertation, Sharma developed computational and theoretical frameworks to study how the viscoelastic properties of the extracellular matrix influence cancer cell migration, how mechanical forces regulate immune synapse formation, how metabolic stress generates solid stress within tumors and how artificial intelligence can connect chromatin organization, chromatin accessibility and gene expression. Together, these projects demonstrate how mechanics can provide a unifying framework for understanding complex biological systems.

Sharma began his Ph.D. in 2020 with a background in mechanical engineering and biomechanics, but his research quickly expanded far beyond those fields.

“I don’t think I fully understood how much the Ph.D. would expand my sense of what mechanical engineering could be,” he says. “What I appreciated most about Penn, and specifically about Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), was that I never felt restricted to one narrow definition of mechanical engineering.”

Throughout his doctoral work, Sharma moved seamlessly between mathematical modeling, microscopy image analysis, genomics, sequencing data and deep learning. Penn’s collaborative research environment, including partnerships across Penn Engineering, the Perelman School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Center for Engineering and Mechanobiology, allowed him to approach biological questions from multiple perspectives. His final project introduced him to multimodal generative modeling for genomics and high-performance computing, skills he developed through Penn’s research ecosystem while earning the University’s Certificate of Advanced Scientific Computing.

Like many researchers working at the boundaries of multiple disciplines, Sharma encountered setbacks along the way.

“There were models that didn’t work, projects that took much longer than expected, data that was hard to interpret and moments when I felt like I was in a field that I knew very little about,” he says. “But those hard moments also changed me. I became more comfortable with uncertainty and more patient with complicated problems.”

Although his Ph.D. included many scientific milestones, the moment that stands out most came at the very end.

“My defense was emotional and exciting. It was the first time I could really step back and acknowledge all the people who had been part of the journey,” Sharma says. “After it was over, it took me a couple of days to fully process that I had actually finished one of the hardest academic things I had ever taken on.”

Sharma defending his Ph.D.

Outside the laboratory, Sharma embraced opportunities to teach, mentor and build community. He served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate and graduate MEAM courses, earning the MEAM Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, completed the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Innovation (CETLI) Teaching Certificate, served as vice president of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association (MEGA), and joined the Penn Biotech Group, where he gained experience in life sciences consulting and biomedical innovation. These experiences broadened his perspective while strengthening his connections across the University.

Sharma (middle) receiving the Outstanding TA Award.

After graduation, Sharma plans to pursue a career in life sciences consulting focused on rare diseases. He hopes to apply his training in computational modeling and biological systems to help translate scientific discoveries into therapies that reach patients.

For students considering a Ph.D. in MEAM, Sharma encourages them to choose a research environment that excites them and not be intimidated by unfamiliar disciplines.

“Don’t feel limited by what you already know when you start,” he says. “If a problem is interesting to you, you can learn the skills needed to work on it.” He also encourages students to build a life beyond the lab. “Only the research gets written down in the thesis, but a lot of growth happens outside the research as well. Make friends, explore Philadelphia, join campus groups and keep pursuing the hobbies and interests that make you feel like yourself.”

Sharma attending a rock climbing event with MEGA

Sharma extends his gratitude to his advisor, collaborators, committee members, lab mates, the MEAM community and his family, whose support made his doctoral journey possible. He gives special thanks to his wife, Saheli, whom he met during the Ph.D. program.

“Looking back, I feel very lucky. I came to Penn for a Ph.D., but I also found mentors, collaborators, friends, family and a home. I will always be grateful for that.”