Dr. Singh received his Bachelors of Engineering (B. E) in Polymer Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, India (2001), his Masters of Technology (M. Tech) from Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India (2003) and his Ph. D in Polymer Science from the University of Akron, Ohio (2008). He was a Maryland Stem Cell Research Foundation postdoctoral fellow (MSCRF, 2010-12) and an Arthritis Foundation (AF, 2012-14) postdoctoral fellow at the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. Before, his postdoctoral research fellowships, he worked in General Electric (GE), now SABIC-IP, as a product developer (2008-09). Dr. Singh joined the Department of Urology, Brady Urological Institute, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as an instructor in 2014 and as a full time Assistant Professor since July 1st, 2015 with a secondary appointment in the Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Singh's research interest is in finding clinically relevant simple solutions to complex health problems through translational scientific and engineering approaches. One of the main goals of his research group is "Regenerative Urology", where the research is focused on design, fabrication and development of functional urinary tissues and organs, such as urinary diversion conduit, ureter and bladder. His group applies major themes including, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, stem cell and tissue engineering for regenerating biologically and mechanically functional tissues/organs, specifically urological tissues and organs, musculoskeletal and ocular tissues. His group also studies a variety of biomaterials-based deployment strategies that provide spatiotemporal delivery of biologics, including peptides, cells, nanomaterials, polymers and small molecules to augment endogenous repair responses and target degenerative diseases.

Research Interests: Polymer Chemistry, Stem Cells, Biomaterials, Regenerative Urology, Tissue Engineering, and Design & Fabrication.

Education

Education and Training

2001     B. Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, India  
2003     M. Technology (course), Polymer Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
2003     M. Technology (thesis), Institute for Plastics processing, RWTH, Aachen, Germany                        
2008     Ph. D., Polymer Science (Chemistry), University of Akron, Ohio
2010     Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Professional Experience

2000     Summer Intern, Process Technology, Reliance Industries Limited
2008     Product Developer, General Electric (GE plastics)                              
2014     Instructor, Urology, Johns Hopkins University
2014     Instructor, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Publications

 Free access to abstracts at PubMed

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Publications:  Peer-reviewed Original Science Research [*shared 1st author]                                                        

1. Chaicharoen K, Polce JM, Singh A, Pugh C, Wesdemiotis C. Characterization of linear and branched polyacrylates by tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2008; 392:595-607.
2. Pugh C, Raveendra B, Singh A, Reichel S, Garcia G. Design and regioselective synthesis of (2-bromo-2-alkoxycarbonyl)ethyl acrylates as inimers for hyperbranched (co)polyacrylates. SynLett. 2010; 13:1947-1950.
3. Pugh C, Singh A. Synthesis of hyperbranched polyacrylates by a chloroinimer approach. Macromolecules. 2010; 43:5222-5232.
4. Singh A, Elisseeff J. Biomaterials for stem cell differentiation. J Mater Chem. 2012; 20:8832-8847.
5. Deans L*, Singh A*, Elisseeff J. Regulating gene-networks in 3D biomaterials. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 2012; 109:15217-15277.
6. Zhan J*, Singh A*, Elisseeff J. Multifunctional aliphatic polyester for tissue engineering applications. Biomatter. 2012; 2:202-212.
7. Singh A, Zhan J, Elisseeff J. Multifunctional modular poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels for stem cell differentiation. Adv Funct Mater. 2013; 5:575-582.
8. Singh A, Deans L, Elisseeff J. Photomodulation of gene expression in hydrogels. ACS MacroLetters. 2013; 2:269-272.
9. Beck J*, Singh A*, Rothenberg A, Elisseeff J. The independent roles of mechanical, structural and adhesion characteristics of 3D hydrogels on the regulation of cancer invasion and dissemination. Biomaterials. 2013; 34:9486-9495.
10. Singh A, Corvelli M, Unterman S, Elisseeff J. Enhanced lubrication on tissue and biomaterial surfaces through peptide-mediated binding of hyaluronic acid. Nat Mater. 2014; 13:988-995. (also Editor's choice in Science Translational Medicine)
11. Singh A, Li P, Elisseeff J. Surface-bound hyaluronic acid enhances water retention in contact lenses. Cont Lens Anterior Eyes. 2014; 38:79-84.
12. Corvelli M, Singh A, Che B, Saeui C, Elisseeff J. Biodynamic performance of hyaluronic acid versus synovial fluid of the knee as a therapy for osteoarthritis. Methods. 2015; Epub ahead of print.
13. Chakraborty A, Patni P, Suhag D, Saini G, Singh A, Chakrabarti S, Mukherjee M. N-doped carbon nanosheets with antibacterial activity: mechanistic insight. RSC Advances. 2015; 5:23591-23598.
14. Reid B, Gibson M, Singh A, Taube J, Furlong C, Murcia M, Elisseeff J. PEG hydrogel degradation and the role of the surrounding tissue environment.  J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2015; 9:315-318.
15. Suhag D, Singh A, Chattopadhyay S, Chakrabarti S, Mukherjee M. Hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen doped graphene nanosheets from carbon nanosheets with enhanced electrocatalytic properties. RSC Advances. 2015; 5; 39705-39713.

In Press

1. Singh A, Zhan J, Elisseeff J.  Modulating chemistry of PEG hydrogels: effect of molecular composition and concentration on tissue development. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2015 (in press).
2. Suhag D, Bhatia R, Das S, Shakeel A, Ghosh A, Singh A, Sinha OP, Chakrabarti S, Mukherjee M. Physically cross-linked pH-responsive hydrogels with tunable formulations for controlled drug delivery. RSC Advances. 2015 (in press).

Book Chapters

1. Singh A, Polycarbonates in polycondensation reactions. Encyclopedia, Wiley publication, 2015.
2. Kates M, Singh A, Matsui H, Steinberg GD, Smith NM, Schoenberg MP, Bivalacqua TJ. Tissue-engineered urinary conduits. Curr Urol Rep, 2015; 16:8.

Internet media

Inventions, Patents, Copyrights

Memberships

Awards & Honors