Dr. Yong Mao is an associate research professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University. She received her Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry from Rutgers University. Then, started her research career at Princeton University focusing on the cell-extracellular matrix (ECM). Dr. Mao expanded her expertise in ECM as a senior scientist at LifeCell Corporation. She joined Rutgers University as research faculty in 2013, leading biological studies of ECM-polymer biomaterials and collaborations with industry on multiple translational research projects. She has over forty peer-reviewed scientific publications and is an inventor for four US patents. Dr. Mao brings her expertise to this project to develop textured scaffolds using decellularized tissue ECM and sustainable cell sources from both primary and stem cells.