The Department of Medical Engineering is excited to welcome Dr. Anna Bulysheva, who joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2022. With a distinguished background in bioelectrics, biomedical engineering, and interdisciplinary translational research, Dr. Bulysheva brings a unique and dynamic perspective to our growing academic community. She currently teaches Molecular and Cell Engineering, where she introduces students to the forefront of biomedical innovation at the cellular level. Dr. Bulysheva鈥檚 academic and professional journey reflects a deep and sustained commitment to biomedical discovery. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she conducted research under the mentorship of Dr. W. Andrew Yeudall and Dr. Gary Bowlin. She began her scientific training with a B.S. in Biology鈥攁long with minors in Physics and Chemistry鈥攆rom the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, combining the biological and physical sciences from the start.
Her postdoctoral work at the Frank Reidy Center for Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University solidified her expertise in the emerging field of Bioelectrics. Under the guidance of Dr. Richard Heller, a pioneer in electroporation-based therapy, Dr. Bulysheva investigated the use of pulsed electric fields for targeted gene delivery, cancer therapy, and tissue regeneration鈥攁pplications that hold tremendous promise for non-invasive medical treatments.
Image 1 Electrotransfer enhances therapeutic gene delivery to regenerating heart cells-cardiomyocytes
Before joining USF, Dr. Bulysheva held a faculty position in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Old Dominion University, where she fostered cross-disciplinary collaborations between engineering, biology, and medicine. She also served as a research professor at ODU鈥檚 Reidy Center, securing state and federal grants to support research projects and publications in therapeutic bioelectric applications, with the most recent grant award from the Commonwealth Health Research Board, for research in Type 1 Diabetes. An active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, and the International Society for Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments (ISEBTT) where she was elected the Council Officer of Biological Sciences for 2024-2026.
In her courses and mentorship at USF, Dr. Bulysheva empowers students to think critically and creatively about cellular and molecular systems, drawing on her rich research background and real-world applications. Her work exemplifies the type of interdisciplinary innovation that is central to the mission of the Department of Medical Engineering at USF.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Bulysheva as part of our faculty. Her expertise in molecular bioengineering and therapeutic technologies will not only advance our research profile but also inspire the next generation of biomedical engineers.