Mallidi named Tiampo Family Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor Srivalleesha Mallidi was recently appointed Tiampo Family Assistant Professor. Established in 2018 by James J., E83, A83, and Kristy, E83, Tiampo for Tufts University’s School of Engineering the professorship supports their belief that engineering is a creative and collaborative discipline best taught from a rich diversity of perspectives, discussion and inquiry. The Tiampo Family Assistant Professorship nurtures the career development of accomplished junior faculty who have been traditionally underrepresented in engineering, and supports them as they inspire, mentor and edify Tufts students with new ideas, fresh scholarship, and innovative research. 

Mallidi’s research focuses on utilizing non-invasive acoustic and optical imaging techniques with nanomaterials and biological models to understand the structural, functional, molecular, and biomechanical heterogeneity of pathologies such as cancer. She is the director of the integrated Biofunctional and Therapeutics Laboratory (iBIT Lab), which utilizes biofunctional imaging to guide surgical methods, predict therapeutic response, and design effective therapeutic strategies. She earned her MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, worked at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine Harvard Medical School, before joining the Tufts Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) in 2019.

Her current work focuses on advancing therapeutic, diagnostic, and drug delivery solutions for various types of cancer, including oral cancer, pancreatic cancer and head and neck cancers. In one project funded by the National Institutes of Health, Mallidi is developing an image-guided photodynamic treatment for tumors with the goal of drastically reducing normal tissue resection and recurrence rates. Her research has implications for low-cost medical devices and improved drug delivery methods.

Earlier this year, the Tufts Engineering Faculty Research Awards Committee selected Mallidi as this year’s recipient of the Sunrise Award in recognition of her academic rigor. Each year, one junior faculty member is selected for this award based on outstanding scholarly accomplishments within their discipline. Dean of Research and Professor Matt Panzer, of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, applauded Mallidi’s dedication to her research, saying, “She truly exemplifies the creativity, passion, and drive that is critical to advancing engineering research that can benefit the lives of others.”  

In addition to the Sunrise Award, Mallidi has received numerous prestigious honors including a Rising Star Young Investigator Award from the International Photodynamic Association, New Investigator Award from the Central Texas Clinical Research Forum for her work on molecular-specific photoacoustic imaging, a Young Investigator Award from the Frontiers in Biomedical Imaging Science V Symposium, and a Women in Molecular Imaging Network Rising Star Award from the World Molecular Imaging Conference. At Tufts, she has been honored with the 2022 Exemplary Engineer Award from Tufts Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Society, and a 2023 Faculty Mentoring Award from the Graduate Student Council.

Beyond her commitment to research and teaching, Mallidi is deeply involved in the Tufts community as a chair and organizer for the School of Engineering junior faculty group, a member of the School of Engineering Academic Standing Committee, and a member of the BME Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Under her new title as Tiampo Family Assistant Professor, Mallidi will continue to advance innovative biomedical research at Tufts. 

Learn more about Tiampo Family Assistant Professor Srivalleesha Mallidi.