Liza-Anastasia DiCecco

Dr. Liza-Anastasia DiCecco is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, working specifically with their Biomedical Engineering program. The DiCecco Team, known as the Regenerative Biomaterials Innovation Group, explores biomimetic implant development for hard tissue applications and fundamental biomineralization processes. Her team leverages advanced multiscale characterization tools in her research to explore biomaterials with new lenses.

Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Nanotherapeutics and Regenerative Biomaterials Lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University, where she was supported by the NSERC Banting Fellowship. There, her work focused on biomaterials for hard tissue regenerative applications and innovating new advanced characterization strategies to assess biomaterials, specifically through liquid phase microscopy techniques. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from McMaster University, supported by the NSERC Vanier Scholarship. There, her research explored calcium phosphate biomineralization processes, essential for maintaining and repairing hard tissues like bone and teeth, and peri-implant repair of titanium-based porous implants. She also holds a Master of Applied Science in Materials Engineering and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Windsor, where she researched titanium additive manufacturing processes and their influence on material properties. Outside of the lab, Dr. DiCecco enjoys travelling, playing roller derby, painting and is a big foodie.