Office: 432 CBEB
Lab: 424 CBEB
I graduated from North Carolina State University, where I majored in Materials Science and Engineering. When not in the lab, I’m likely cooking something boujee as a cry for attention in accordance with my “middle child syndrome”. If you know me, you know that I am constantly listening to music. You can usually find me listening to something a little weird, like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Chon, or Time Cop 1983.
My research focuses on the biomechanics and mechanobiology driving tendon development, with a particular interest in understanding how mechanical stimulation (i.e. movement) during development drives changes within the hierarchical collagen structure to result in robust load-bearing tendon tissue.
PSA: I’m looking for post-doc opportunities!
EDUCATION
HONORS AND AWARDS
2017 University Graduate Research Assistantship, Pennsylvania State University
2020 Penn State University Student Leadership Award
2021 ASME-BED/SB3C Ph.D Student Paper Competition – Runner-Up
2022 ORS Tendon Section – Trainee Award (Podium)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
2019 Penn State Exploration-U, Community Science Outreach
2020 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Judge
2021 WPSU Virtual Summer Camp
2022 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Judge
2022 ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women
2022 Cedar Cliff High School – Classroom Outreach
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Peterson, B. E., & Szczesny, S. E. (2020). Dependence of Tendon Multiscale Mechanics on Sample Gauge Length is Consistent with Discontinuous Collagen Fibrils. Acta Biomaterialia, 117, 302-309.
2. Peterson, Benjamin E., Rebecca A. Rolfe, Allen Kunselman, Paula Murphy, and Spencer E. Szczesny. “Mechanical Stimulation via Muscle Activity Is Necessary for the Maturation of Tendon Multiscale Mechanics During Embryonic Development.” Frontiers in cell and developmental biology (2021): 2471.2.
3. Abune, L., Zhao, N., Lai, J., Peterson, B., Szczesny, S., & Wang, Y. (2019). Macroporous hydrogels for stable sequestration and sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor using nucleic acid aptamers. ACS biomaterials science & engineering, 5(5), 2382-2390.3.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny. “Muscle Immobilization Prevents Functional Development of Embryonic Tendons But Does Not Affect Collagen Crosslinking”. Orthopaedic Research Society Tendon Section Meeting, May 2022, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Podium Presentation – Competition Finalist
Benjamin Peterson, Rebecca Rolfe, Paula Murphy, and Spencer Szczesny. “Muscle Immobilization Prevents Functional Development of Embryonic Tendons But Does Not Affect Collagen Crosslinking”. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, February 2022, Tampa, FL, United States. Poster Presentation
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Mechanical Stimulation Mediates the Changes in Multiscale Tendon Mechanics Observed During Embryonic Development”, Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference, July 2021, Vale, CO [Virtual], United States; Ph.D. Competition- Podium Presentation [Runner-up]
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Tendon Multiscale Mechanics is Dependent on Sample Gauge Length”, Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference, July 2020, Vale, CO [Virtual], United States; Podium Presentation
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Tendon Multiscale Mechanics is Dependent on Sample Gauge Length”, Biomedical Engineering Society, October 2020, San Diego, CA, United States; Podium Presentation
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Experimental Measurement of Embryonic Tendon Multiscale Mechanics”, Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference, July 2019 Seven Spring, PA, United States; Podium Presentation
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Experimental Measurement of Embryonic Tendon Multiscale Mechanics”, Musculoskeletal Research Symposium, April 2019, University Park, PA, United States; Poster Presentation
Benjamin Peterson and Spencer Szczesny, “Multiscale Mechanics of Embryonic Tendon, North East Bioengineering Conference, March 2019, New Brunswick, NJ, United States; Podium Presentation