Lab

Dr. Meir Barak's academic journey began at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Rehovot, Israel, where he earned his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Animal Science and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). After dedicating two years to full-time small animal veterinary practice, Dr. Barak transitioned to part-time work and continued his academic education at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, where he completed his PhD in bone biomechanics. During this time, he focused his research on the relationship between bone structure and function, utilizing the rat as an animal model. Concurrently, he obtained his teaching certificate, qualifying him as a high school biology teacher. Dr. Barak's postdoctoral work spanned two years in a joint position at Harvard University's Department of Human Evolutionary Biology in Cambridge, MA, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. His research during this period centered on extinct hominin bipedal locomotion, specifically in Australopithecines, and its manifestation in the ankle's trabecular bone structure. Following his postdoctoral studies, Dr. Barak spent a year as a lecturer at Harvard University's Department of Human Evolutionary Biology before joining Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. At Winthrop, he served as an Assistant Professor for five years and then as an Associate Professor for one year in the Department of Biology. During his tenure at Winthrop University, Dr. Barak developed and taught a diverse range of courses. These included "Human Anatomy," his self-designed "Biology of Bone" course, and various undergraduate and graduate courses catering to both Biology and non-Biology majors. Beyond his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Barak maintained an active research laboratory, where he mentored nearly twenty undergraduate and four graduate students. Dr. Barak's current research focuses on the relationship between bone structure and mechanical properties. He employs a three-pronged approach: mechanically testing bone tissues from various bones and animals, 3D printing and testing bone structures (both healthy and pathological samples), and using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to map stress and strain distribution and predict areas prone to failure. His research interests span a wide range of topics within the field of bone biology, including bone health and disease, biomechanics, bone adaptation (modeling and remodeling), Finite Element (FE) modeling, 3D printing, and animal locomotion. Through this multifaceted approach, Dr. Barak hope to continue and contribute valuable insights to the scientific community and inspire the next generation of researchers.

Amanda is a second-year student at Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2024, where she worked as a teaching assistant for evolutionary biology. With years of experience working as an emergency veterinary assistant, Amanda plans to continue practicing emergency medicine as a veterinarian for small animals and exotics after graduation. Her strong interest in orthopedic medicine and surgery led her to join the Bone Biomechanics Lab's summer research team. There, she focuses on segmenting and analyzing the canine baculum to understand its structure and function.

Derek Gilbert is a veterinary student at the LIU College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2028. He earned his B.S. in Pre-Veterinary Medicine with a minor in Biology from the University of Delaware, Class of 2024. Derek is particularly interested in pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery as a future veterinarian.

Lihie Kalfa is a pre-medical student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. This summer, she is contributing to a project investigating the rate of bone remodeling in the canine baculum. Her academic interests include structural biology and the intersection of anatomy and biomechanics .

Salvatore Lobrutto is a student at Wellington C. Mepham high school in the class of 2026. Using the Dragonfly software in the Bone Biomechanics Lab at LIU CVM, he investigates for the first time the internal 3D trabecular structure of the dog fabella, focusing on comparing the medial and lateral fabellae.

Joshua Kiaei is currently a student at Great Neck North High School, class of 2026. Starting the summer of 2024, his research in the Bone Biomechanics Lab at Long Island University focuses on the segmentation and measurement of the dog patellae.

Gulshan Singh is a student at Wellington C. Mepham High School in the class of 2026. Using the Dragonfly software at LIU CVM's Bone Biomechanics Lab, he is researching the effects of raloxifene on the epiphysis of bones in ovariectomized rats. Through his research, Gulshan hopes to advance and contribute to the scientific understanding of bone function and structure and eventually, pursue a career in STEM or in the medical field.