Rate My Professor Andrew Shoffstall

Andrew Shoffstall is the Nord Distinguished Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Chair for Graduate Education in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2013 and his B.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University in 2008. Following his doctoral studies, Shoffstall conducted postdoctoral research in the Capadona Lab at Case Western Reserve University from 2015 to 2019, focusing on dynamically softening materials for brain-machine interfaces. He joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2019 and advanced to his current associate professor role. Shoffstall also serves as an Investigator at the Advanced Platform Technology Center, a Department of Veterans Affairs facility, and is affiliated with the Neural Engineering Center at Case Western Reserve University.

Shoffstall's research lies at the intersection of biomaterials and neural engineering, emphasizing translatable solutions for enhanced neural interfaces. His work addresses implantation challenges including tissue trauma, bleeding, inflammation, and scarring that isolate devices from neural tissue. Strategies include minimizing surgical trauma, novel material and drug delivery systems, and early integration of commercial and clinical considerations like manufacturability, scalability, and regulatory pathways. Key contributions appear in high-impact journals, such as 'Neuron-like neural probes' (Nature Materials, 2019, co-authored with J.R. Capadona and J.R. Pancrazio), 'A Mosquito Inspired Strategy to Implant Microprobes into the Brain' (Scientific Reports, 2018), 'Platelet-mimicking procoagulant nanoparticles augment clotting' (Science Translational Medicine, 2022), and 'Dexamethasone-loaded platelet-inspired nanoparticles' (Nature Communications, 2025). Earlier works include 'An Injectable Neural Stimulation Electrode Made from an In-Body Curing Polymer/Metal Composite' (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2019) and studies on neuroinflammatory responses to microelectrodes. Shoffstall has earned the 2018 Phi Beta Kappa 'Most Influential Educator' Award from Strongsville High School, the 2012 Poster Award from Polymers Initiative Northeast Ohio, 2007 induction into Alpha Epsilon Biological Engineer Honor Society, and the 2006 Biomedical Engineering Society STAR Award. His scholarship has over 2200 citations per Google Scholar and supports major NIH-funded initiatives in neural technologies.