Kim “Avrama” Blackwell, professor of bioengineering at George Mason University, has been named the DEO of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering. The appointment is effective August 16, 2023.
Blackwell is a world leader in the computational modeling of calcium dynamics and signaling pathways underlying neuronal plasticity. Her research investigates the mechanisms whereby particular spatiotemporal patterns of inputs produce changes in synaptic plasticity and intrinsic excitability. As part of this research, she creates novel software, both using deterministic approaches and stochastic approaches, either stand-alone or working in conjunction with other neural modeling software, in order to address otherwise intractable problems.
Blackwell holds a BS in biomedical engineering from Boston University as well as an MSE in systems engineering, a VMD in veterinary medicine, and a PhD in bioengineering, all from the University of Pennsylvania.
Blackwell succeeds Joseph Reinhardt, who served as BME DEO for nearly 12 years.