B. Behkam Virginia Tech: Leader in Microrobotics

When you search B. Behkam Virginia Tech, you are likely referring to Bahareh Behkam, a prominent professor at Virginia Tech known for her work in mechanical engineering, bio‐hybrid microrobotics, micro/nanoscale systems, mechanobiology, and cancer therapy. This article explores her background, research interests, achievements, and the impact of her work in academia and biomedical fields.

H2: Who is B. Behkam?

H3: Academic Credentials and Positions

• Name: Bahareh Behkam Virginia Tech+1

• Current Position: Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech+1

• Affiliations: She holds affiliate appointments in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences; the Biological Systems Engineering Department; and the Macromolecules Innovation Institute. Virginia Tech+2Behkam+2

H3: Education and Early Career

• Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran. Virginia Tech+1

• Graduate Degrees: M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Virginia Tech+1

• She began her faculty role at Virginia Tech in 2008, initially as an Assistant Professor, then rising through the ranks. Virginia Tech+1

H2: Research Areas & Key Projects of B. Behkam

Bahareh Behkam’s research blends biology, engineering, robotics, and nanotechnology. The focus is strongly interdisciplinary, aimed at solving major challenges in medicine, environmental monitoring, and pathogen detection.

H3: Bio‐Hybrid Microrobotic Systems & Cancer Therapy

One notable project is the development of NanoBEADS (Nanoscale Bacteria‐Enabled Autonomous Delivery System), which combines engineered bacteria with nanoparticle “cargo” to enhance drug delivery into tumors. The aim is to improve penetration of therapeutic agents in primary and metastatic tumors while reducing harmful side effects. Virginia Tech+3Virginia Tech+3Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery+3

H3: Pathogen Monitoring and Disease Diagnostics

Behkam’s lab has also secured large grants (e.g. $2 million from the NSF) to develop airborne pathogen‐monitoring technologies. This work involves creating “living sensors” using engineered microorganisms in material matrices, which can detect pathogens and give public alerts. Virginia Tech News

H3: Mechanobiology, Biofilm Formation, and Cell Migration

Her lab studies:

• How cells (mammalian or microbial) move in controlled environments with multiple physical and chemical cues. Virginia Tech+2Behkam+2

• How bacterial or fungal biofilms form on surfaces (including the effects of surface nanotopography). Behkam+1

• Interfacial mechanics: how pathogens interact with biomaterials or host cells. Virginia Tech+1

H2: Major Awards & Recognition

H3: NSF CAREER Award & Other Grants

• In 2015, Behkam won the prestigious NSF CAREER award for her research into bacteria‐based cancer therapy. Virginia Tech News

• More recently, she secured a $2 million grant (2023) for airborne pathogen monitoring. Virginia Tech News

H3: Virginia Tech Honors

• Named John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow in 2020. This is a mid‑career award recognizing research, teaching, and service. Virginia Tech News

• “Outstanding New Assistant Professor Award” in 2012. Virginia Tech+1

H3: Publications, Awards & Speaking Engagements

• Behkam’s lab has published in high‐impact journals like ACS Nano, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Lab on a Chip, Advanced Science, among others. Virginia Tech News+1

• Her work has won several best‐paper and best‐poster awards. Behkam+1

• She also delivers invited talks, for example in Virginia Tech’s Distinguished Series. Virginia Tech

H2: Impact and Future Directions

H3: Implications in Biomedical Field

The potential of Behkam’s work lies in improving cancer treatment and diagnostics:

• By precisely delivering drugs to tumors using engineered bacteria, treatments may become more effective with fewer side effects. Virginia Tech News+1

• Rapid detection and continuous monitoring of pathogens (including airborne ones) could bolster public health, especially in light of recent global challenges like COVID‑19. Virginia Tech News

H3: Environmental Monitoring & Other Applications

• Beyond human health, the lab explores environmental sensing (air quality, pathogen presence) and potentially applications in agriculture (like pest monitoring). Advanced Ag Innovation Center+1

H3: Education, Mentorship, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Behkam is also known for mentoring many Ph.D., master’s, and undergraduate students. Behkam+1

• Her lab settings are highly interdisciplinary—drawing from biology, engineering, materials science. The combination fosters innovation. Behkam+1

H2: Why “B. Behkam Virginia Tech” is an Important Search Keyword

• It connects users with the academic profile of Bahareh Behkam.

• It reveals her groundbreaking research in microrobotics and biomedical engineering.

• For students, collaborators, or funders, this keyword helps locate her lab, her publications, and latest grants.

• For the general public, it highlights new technologies for cancer therapy and disease monitoring.

H2: Conclusion

Bahareh Behkam (frequently referred to as “B. Behkam” in abbreviated form) is a leading figure at Virginia Tech whose work sits at the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine. From her education and faculty roles to her major grants, innovations in bio‐hybrid robotics, pathogen detection, and cell mechanics, her contributions are significant both for academic advancement and societal benefit. Searching “B. Behkam Virginia Tech” will bring you to a researcher whose lab is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in health technologies and living systems.