Vishal Thomas, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D, Bioengineering, Clemson University (2024)
• M.S., Bioengineering, Clemson University (2022)
• Sc.M, Mechanics of Solids, Brown University (2016)
• B.Tech, Mechanical Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (2013)

Experience

• Graduate Teacher-of-Record – Clemson University/General Engineering
• Medical Device Design Mentor – Clemson University/Bioengineering
• Co-founder/Product Engineer – Orthopedix
• Graduate Teaching Assistant – Brown University/Mechanical Engineering

Professional Activities

• Member, Society for Biomaterials (2019-2023)

Honors and Awards

• Nationalist, The 3-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) - The council of Graduate Schools (CGS) 2024
• Regional Champion, The 3-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) – The Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) (2024)
• Guest, Fox Carolina (2024)
• Recipient, The Michael A. Zebuhr Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Research, Clemson Bioengineering (2024)
• First Place, 3MT – Clemson University (2023)
• First Place, 3MT – The Society for Biomaterials Annual Conference, California (2023)
• Recipient, Outstanding Graduate Teacher-of-Record Award, Graduate Student Government, Clemson University (2023)
• Recipient, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Clemson Bioengineering (2023)
• Recipient, Frank H. Stelling and C. Dayton Riddle Orthopedic Doctoral Research Scholarship Award, Clemson Bioengineering ($10,000) (2021)
• Recipient, Extraordinary Student Service Award, Graduate Student Government, Clemson University (2020)
• First Place, 3MT – Clemson University (2019)
• First Place, Lecture Series – Graduate Research and Development Symposium (GRADS) – Clemson University (2019)
• Recipient – The Christabel Jebaraj Award for Best Outgoing Student, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, India (2013)

Publications

• Thomas VJ, Buchweitz NF, Wu Y, Mercuri JJ. Evaluation of Cartilage-Like Matrix Formation in a Nucleus Pulposus-Derived Cartilage Analog Scaffold. J Biomed Mater Res. 2025;113(1):e35534
• Thomas VJ, Buchweitz NF, Baek JJ, Wu Y, Mercuri JJ. The development of a nucleus pulposus‐derived cartilage analog scaffold for chondral repair and regeneration. J Biomedical Materials Res. 2024;112(3):421-435.
• Thomas V, Mercuri J. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of naturally derived scaffolds for cartilage repair and regeneration. Acta Biomaterialia. 2023;171:1-18.
• V.J., Ramaswamy S. Application of graphene and graphene compounds for environmental remediation. Science of Advanced Materials. 2016;8(3):477-500.

Patents 

• Eltorai, A.E.M., Seetharam, A., Thomas, V.J., “Patient specific carpal implant,” United States Patent, No. US 10925746 B2. Appl. No. 16/045,680. Issued Feb 23, 2021.
• Eltorai, A.E.M., Seetharam, A., Thomas, V.J., “Implant for total wrist replacement,” United States Patent, No. US 11166822 B2. Appl. No. 16/045,737. Issued Oct 20, 2021.
• Eltorai, A.E.M., Seetharam, A., Thomas, V.J., “Prosthetic implant caps,” United States Patent, No. US 10918487 B2. Appl. No. 16/045,700. Issued Jan 27, 2021.
• Eltorai, A.E.M., Seetharam, A., Thomas, V.J., Gupta, A., “Intercarpal surgical implant,” United States Patent, No. US 10918488 B2. Appl. No. 15/602,501. Issued Jan 27, 2021.
• Seetharam, A., Eltorai, A.E.M., Thomas, V.J., “Contralateral image orthopedic implant,” United States Patent, No. US 11804305 B2. Appl. No. 15/412,458. Issued Oct 11, 2023.
• Eltorai, A.E.M., Seetharam, A., Thomas, V.J., “Implant for total wrist replacement,” United States Publication, No. US 20220062001 A1. Appl. No. 17/521,637. Issued Nov 12, 2024.

Recent Conference Proceedings and Presentations 

Presentations

• Thomas. V.J., Buchweitz. N., Wu. Y., Mercuri. J. “The Mechanical Characterization of a Novel Cartilage Repair Scaffold”, Rapid Fire Presentation, Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, Baltimore, 2022
• Thomas. V.J., Marionneaux. A., Mercuri. J. “The Mechanical Modification of a Novel Scaffold to Treat Focal Cartilage Defects”, Rapid Fire Presentation, Society for Biomaterials Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition 2021

Posters

• Rao A.K., Liu L, Nichols W, Thomas. V.J. Schmidt L, Gao BZ. “Application of 3D-Bioprinting for the Development and Characterization of Hydrogels for Chondrocyte Regeneration”, Poster, The Biomedical Engineering Society, Baltimore, 2024
• V.J., Mercuri. J. “A Potential Extracellular Matrix-Based Scaffold for Cartilage Regeneration”, Poster, SCbio Annual Conference, Greenville, 2024
• V.J., Mercuri. J. “A Potential Extracellular Matrix-Based Scaffold for Cartilage Regeneration”, Poster, Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, San Diego, 2023
• V.J., Buchweitz. N., Wu. Y., Mercuri. J. “The Mechanical Characterization of a Novel Cartilage Repair Scaffold”, Poster, Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, Baltimore, 2022
• K., Laye. D., Thomas. V.J., Mercuri. J.J. “Lowering the Proteoglycan to Collagen Ratio in an Implant to Mimic Natural Cartilage”, Clemson University SPRI Virtual Poster Forum, July 17, 2020
• L., Hodge. H., Thomas. V.J., Mercuri. J.J. “Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of a Cartilage Scaffold for Cartilage Repair”, Clemson University SPRI Virtual Poster Forum, July 16, 2021