The Tissue Engineering Research Group at the University of Bergen is pleased to congratulate Tara Johanvik on the successful defence of her PhD thesis entitled:
“Engineering Nanobioinks with Tailored Printability, Mechanical, and Biological Properties for Tissue Engineering – A Systematic Materials Approach.”
Tara’s doctoral research focused on the development of advanced nanostructured bioinks for tissue engineering applications. Through a systematic materials engineering approach, her work investigated how the incorporation of functional nanomaterials can be used to optimize printability, mechanical performance, and biological functionality of biofabricated constructs. The findings contribute to the growing field of biofabrication and support the development of next-generation biomaterials for regenerative medicine.
Throughout her PhD journey, Tara demonstrated remarkable dedication, resilience, and scientific curiosity. The project involved numerous technical and experimental challenges, requiring continuous optimization and extensive interdisciplinary collaboration. Her perseverance and positive attitude were instrumental in overcoming these obstacles and advancing the research.
The work resulted in six peer-reviewed scientific publications, including two first-author articles in internationally recognized journals, reflecting the scientific quality and impact of her research contributions.
The thesis was supervised by Professor Kamal Mustafa as principal supervisor, with Dr. Shuntaro Yamada, Dr. Niyaz Al-Sharabi, and Dr. Ahmad Rashad serving as co-supervisors.
The evaluation committee consisted of:
- Professor Waruna Dissanayaka, HKU Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (1st opponent)
- Associate Professor Farah Asaad, Department of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden (2nd opponent)
- Professor Marit Øilo, University of Bergen, Norway (committee member)
The public defence featured engaging scientific discussions and constructive evaluations of the thesis work. The Tissue Engineering Research Group extends its sincere gratitude to the members of the evaluation committee for their valuable contributions and insightful discussions.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Tara Johanvik on this significant academic achievement and wish her every success in her future career in research, innovation, and regenerative medicine.