The driving interest of my research is to understand and predict the mechanics of soft tissues and engineering materials.
Innovating at the intersection of imaging, image analysis, machine learning, biology, physiology, and experimental and
computational mechanics, the overarching aim of my lab (Interdisciplinary Mechanics Laboratory) is to establish a multimodal,
virtual human cartilage—a patient-specific analysis framework—to integrate diverse data and unlock previously
unapproachable lines of research. Key contributions to science include: (1) measure, understand, and predict the mechanics
and damage mechanics of cartilage and other soft tissues; (2) image, test, and analyze networks of collagen fibers to
understand mechanics and damage mechanisms in soft tissues; (3) establish and implement image-driven constitutive models
and novel finite-element (FE) simulations of sample- and patient-specific cartilage; (4) determine theoretically consistent
initial and residual strain/stress states for FE simulations of soft tissues to improve prediction fidelity; and (5) quantify and
predict the reliability ofMEMS and electronics systems to advance simulation-driven design. My long-term research vision
is to advance and fundamentally shape engineering and adjacent fields. Our research team aims to establish three
fundamental shifts: (1) from classical passive solid mechanics to the mechanics of functional/degenerative biomechanical
adaptation, (2) from continuum to multi-scale modeling (replacing phenomenological parameters with microscopically
derived and structurally motivated equivalents), and (3) from purely empirical medicine to medical practice integrated
with patient-specific biomechanical analyses. My teaching experience spans instruction, outreach, and mentorship,
through which I strive to inspire enthusiasm for engineering and to combat prejudice, discrimination, and stigma in STEM.

Professor (8/23–present)
University of Connecticut. Storrs, Connecticut
• Design of Machine Elements, ME 3227 (undergraduate, 1×)
• Basic Concepts of Continuum Mechanics, ME 5105 (graduate, 2×)
• ME/BME Senior Design, ME 4972/4973W-BME 4900/4910W (3×, 1–3 teams per year)

Associate Professor (8/18–8/23)
University of Connecticut. Storrs, Connecticut
• Basic Concepts of Continuum Mechanics, ME 5105 (graduate, 1×)
• Advanced Biomechanics of Soft Tissues, ME 5895/3295-BME 6086/4985 (graduate, 2×)
• BioSolid Mechanics, ME 5895/3295-BME 6620/4600 (undergraduate/graduate, 1×)
• Biomechanics, BME 3600 (undergraduate, 3×)
• ME/BME Senior Design, ME 4972/4973W-BME 4900/4910W (4×, 1–3 teams per year)

Assistant Professor (8/13–8/18)
University of Connecticut. Storrs, Connecticut
• BioSolid Mechanics, ME 5985/3230-BME 6620/4600 (undergraduate/graduate, 5×)
• Biomechanics, BME 3600/W (undergraduate, 5×)
• ME/BME Senior Design, ME 4972/4973W-BME 4900/4910W (5×, 1–3 teams per year)

Universitätsassistent (Assistant Professor) (10/08–8/13)
Graz University of Technology. Graz, Austria
• Computational Biomechanics, 450.011 (graduate, 2×)
• Mechanics for Biomedical Engineers, 450.008 (undergraduate, 4×)
• Computational Biomechanics, 450.005 (graduate, 3×)
• Mechanics for Biomedical Engineers, 450.002/.012 (undergraduate, 1×)

Teaching Affiliate (Course Instructor) (3/04–6/04)
Stanford University. Stanford, California
• Finite Element Analysis in Mechanical Design, ME 309 (graduate, 1×)

Book Chapters

4. Feng, B., D.M. Pierce, The Biomechanics of Distal Colon and Rectum and Its Relevance to Visceral Pain, In: S.
Brierley, N. Spencer (Eds), Visceral Pain, Springer Nature, Berlin, DE, 2022.
3. Pierce, D.M., T. Ricken, C.P. Neu, Image-Driven Constitutive Modeling for FE-Based Simulation of Soft Tissue
Biomechanics, In: M. Cerrolaza, S. Shefelbine, D. Garzón-Alvarado (Eds), Numerical Methods and Advanced
Simulation in Biomechanics and Biological Processes, 55–76, Elsevier, Cambridge, MA, 2018.
2. Cai, L., C.P. Neu and D.M. Pierce, Combining Multi-Modal MR Imaging and Biomechanical Modeling to Investigate
the Response of Cartilage and Chondrocytes to Mechanical Stimuli, In: Y. Xia, K.I. Momot (Eds), Biophysics
and Biochemistry of Cartilage by NMR and MRI, 395–432, The Royal Society of Chemistry, London, UK, 2017.
1. Štrbac, V., D.M. Pierce, J. Vander Sloten, N. Famaey, GPU-Based Fast Finite Element Solution for Nonlinear
Anisotropic Material Behavior and Comparison of Integration Strategies, In: G.R. Joldes, B. Doyle, A. Wittek,
P.M.F. Nielsen, K. Miller (Eds), Computational Biomechanics for Medicine: Imaging, Modeling and Computing,
97–105, Springer International Publishing, Cham, CH, 2016.

Refereed Journal Papers

71. Gandhi, V., S.A. Arqub, D.M. Pierce, S. Yadav, M. Upadhyay, Center of Resistance of Maxillary Canines: A 3D
Computational Model for Orthodontic Applications, European Journal of Orthodontics, 47(6):cjaf097, 2025.
70. Shokrani, A., A. Seck, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, Methods for Quantitative Analyses of Nerve Fiber Deformation in the
Myenteric Plexus Under Loading of Mouse Distal Colon and Rectum, Medical Engineering & Physics, 146:104444, 2025.
69. Egli, F.S., S.M. Seyedpour, M. Pachenari, D.M. Pierce, T. Ricken, Computational Modeling of Articular Cartilage:
Mechanical Experiments, Sensitivity Analyses, Parameter Identification, and Validation, Acta Biomaterialia,
204:429–445, 2025.
68. Almasi, A., T. Ricken, D.M. Pierce, Finite Elements of Multiscale Mixtures (FE2M) in Three Dimensions: Theory,
Numerical Implementation, and Analyses, Computational Mechanics, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00466-025-02669-3
67. Rahman, M.M., P.N. Watton, C.P. Neu, D.M. Pierce, Predicting the Heterogeneous Chemo-Mechano-Biological
Degeneration of Cartilage Using 3-D Biphasic Finite Elements, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine,
270:108902, 2025.
66. Safari, K., B. Rodriguez-Vila, D.M. Pierce, Automated Detection of Microcracks within Second Harmonic Generation
Images of Cartilage Using Deep Learning, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 43(6):1101–1112, 2025.
65. Szarek, P., D.M. Pierce, On the Mechanics of Networked Type II Collagen: Experiments, Constitutive Modeling,
and Validation, Acta Biomaterialia, 193:267–278, 2025.
64. Shokrani, A., A. Almasi, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, Understanding Mechanotransduction in the Distal Colon and Rectum
via Multiscale and Multimodal Computational Modeling, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
160:106771, 2024.
63. Rahman, M.M., P.N. Watton, C.P. Neu, D.M. Pierce, A Chemo-Mechano-Biological Modeling Framework for Cartilage
Evolving in Health, Disease, Injury, and Treatment, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 231:107419, 2023.
62. Rodriguez-Vila, B., V. Gonzalez-Hospital, E. Puertas, J.-J. Beunza, D.M. Pierce, Democratization of Deep Learning
for Segmenting Cartilage from MRIs of Human Knees: Application to Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, Journal
of Orthopaedic Research, 41(8):1754–1766, 2023.
61. Wilson, R.L., N.C. Emery, D.M. Pierce, C.P. Neu, Spatial Gradients of Quantitative MRI as Biomarkers for Early
Detection of Osteoarthritis: Data from Human Explants and the Osteoarthritis Initiative, Journal of Magnetic
Resonance Imaging, 58(1):189–197, 2023.
60. Schneider, S.E., A.K. Scott, B. Seelbinder, C. Van Den Elzen, R.L. Wilson, E.Y. Miller, Q. Beato, S. Ghosh, J.E.
Barthold, J. Bilyeu, N.C. Emery, D.M. Pierce, C.P. Neu, Dynamic Biophysical Responses of Neuronal Cell Nuclei
and Cytoskeletal Structure Following High Impulse Loading, Acta Biomaterialia, 163:339–350, 2023.
59. Szarek, P.E., D.M. Pierce, A Specialized Protocol for Mechanical Testing of Isolated Networks of Type II Collagen,
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 136:105466, 2022.
58. Zhao, Y., B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, Predicting the Micromechanics of Embedded Nerve Fibers using a Novel Three-layered
Model of Mouse Distal Colon and Rectum, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 127:105083,
2022.
57. Santos, S., C.P. Neu, J.J. Grady, D.M. Pierce, Genipin Does Not Reduce the Initiation or Propagation of Microcracks
in Collagen Networks of Cartilage, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 4(1):100233, 2022.
56. Seyedpour, S.M., S. Nafisi, M. Nabati, D.M. Pierce, J.R. Reichenbach, T. Ricken, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based
Biomechanical Simulation of Cartilage: A Systematic Review, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical
Materials, 126:104963, 2022.
55. Zhao, Y., S. Siri, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, Toward Elucidating the Physiological Impacts of Residual Stresses in the
Colorectum, ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 144(1):011008 (9 pages), 2022.
54. Pierce, D.M., Multi-Phase, Large-Strain Constitutive Models of Cartilage for Finite Element Analyses in 3-D, Archive
of Applied Mechanics, 92:513–528, 2022.
53. Guo, T., S. Patel, D. Shah, L. Chi, S. Emadi, D.M. Pierce, M. Han, P. Brumovski, B. Feng, Optical Clearing Reveals
TNBS-Induced Morphological Changes of VGLUT2-Positive Nerve Fibers in Mouse Colorectum, American Journal
of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 320(4):G644–G657, 2021.
52. Santos, S., K. Richard, M.C. Fisher, C.N. Dealy, D.M. Pierce, Chondrocytes Respond Both Anabolically and
Catabolically to Impact Loading Generally Considered Non-Injurious, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of
Biomedical Materials, 115:104252, 2021.
51. Flanagan D., B.A. Fisher, C. Ciardiello, V. Moreno, A. Uvalic, J. Winsor, M. Rubano, E. Howard, G. Lykotrafitis,
D.M. Pierce, A Theoretical Iteration for Predicting the Feasibility for Immediate Functional Dental Implant Loading,
Journal of Oral Implantology, 47(4):310–317, 2021.
50. Wang, X., R. June, D.M. Pierce, A 3-D Constitutive Model for Finite Element Analyses of Agarose with a Range
of Gel Concentrations, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 114:104150, 2021.
49. Zhao, Y., S. Siri, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, Computational Modeling of Mouse Colorectum Capturing Longitudinal
and Through-thickness Biomechanical Heterogeneity, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
113:104127, 2021.
48. Maier, F., S. Siri, S. Santos, L. Chen, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, The Heterogeneous Morphology of Networked Collagen
in Distal Colon and Rectum of Mice Quantified Via Nonlinear Microscopy, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior
of Biomedical Materials, 113:104116, 2021.
47. Gandhi, V., B. Luu, R. Dresner, D.M. Pierce, M. Upadhyay, Where is the Center of Resistance of a Maxillary First
Molar? A 3-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis, American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics,
160(3):442–450.e1, 2021.
46. Zhao, Y., S. Siri, B. Feng, D.M. Pierce, The Macro- and Micro-Mechanics of Distal Colon and Rectum II: Theoretical
and Computational Methods, MDPI Bioengineering, 7(4):152, 2020.
45. Siri, S., Y. Zhao, F. Maier, D.M. Pierce, B. Feng, The Macro- and Micro-Mechanics of Distal Colon and Rectum
I: Experimental Evidence, MDPI Bioengineering, 7(4):130, 2020.
44. Szarek, P.E., M.B. Lilledahl, N.C. Emery, C.G. Lewis, D.M. Pierce, The Zonal Evolution of Collagen-Network Morphology
Quantified in Early Osteoarthritic Grades of Human Cartilage, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2:100086, 2020.
43. Zhao, Y., B. Feng, J. Lee, N. Lu, D.M. Pierce, A Multi-Layered Model of Human Skin Elucidates Mechanisms
of Wrinkling in the Forehead, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 105:103694, 2020.
42. Marshall, L., A. Tarakanova, P. Szarek, D.M. Pierce, Cartilage and Collagen Mechanics Under Large-Strain Shear
Within In Vivo and at Supraphysiogical Temperatures, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
103:103595, 2020.
41. Luu, B., E.A. Cronauer, V. Gandhi, J. Kaplan, D.M. Pierce, M. Upadhyay, A Finite Element approach for locating
the Center of Resistance of Maxillary Teeth, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 158:e60746, 2020.
40. Zhao, Y., B. Feng, J. Lee, N. Lu, D.M. Pierce, A Multi-layered Computational Model for Wrinkling of Human
Skin Predicts Aging Effects, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 103:103552, 2020.
39. Wang, X., C.P. Neu, D.M. Pierce, Advances Toward Multiscale Computational Models of Cartilage Mechanics and
Mechanobiology, Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 11:51–57, 2019.
38. Argote, P.F., J.T. Kaplan, A. Poon, X. Xu, N.C. Emery, D.M. Pierce, C.P. Neu, Chondrocyte Viability is Lost
During High-Rate Impact Loading by Transfer of Amplified Strain, But Not Stress, to Pericellular and Cellular
Scales, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27(12):1822–1830, 2019.
37. Siri, S., F. Maier, S. Santos, D.M. Pierce, B. Feng, The Load-Bearing Function of the Colorectal Submucosa and
its Relevance to Visceral Nociception Elicited by Mechanical Stretch, American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal
and Liver Physiology, 317(3):G349–G358, 2019.
36. Santos, S., N.C. Emery, C.P. Neu, D.M. Pierce, Propagation of Microcracks in Collagen Networks of Cartilage Under
Mechanical Loads, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27(9):1392–1402, 2019.
35. Maier, F., C.G. Lewis, D.M. Pierce, Through-Thickness Patterns of Shear Strain Evolve in Early Osteoarthritis,
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27(9):1382–1391, 2019.
34. Siri, S., F. Maier, L. Chen, S. Santos, D.M. Pierce, B. Feng, Differential Biomechanical Properties of Mouse Distal
Colon and Rectum Innervated by the Splanchnic and Pelvic Afferents, American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal
and Liver Physiology, 316(4):G473–G481, 2019.
33. Maier, F., C.G. Lewis, D.M. Pierce, The Evolving Large-Strain Shear Responses of Progressively Osteoarthritic
Human Cartilage, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27(5):810–822, 2019.
32. Wang, X., T.S.E. Eriksson, T. Ricken, D.M. Pierce, On Incorporating Osmotic Prestretch/Prestress in Image-Driven Finite
Element Simulations of Cartilage, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 86(0):409–422, 2018.
31. Kumar, R., D.M. Pierce, V. Isaksen, C. de Lange Davies, J.O. Drogset, M.B. Lilledahl, Comparison of Compressive
Stress Relaxation Behavior in Osteoarthritic (ICRS Graded) Human Cartilage, International Journal of Molecular
Sciences, 19(2): pii:E413, 2018.
30. Štrbac, V., D.M. Pierce, J. Vander Sloten, N. Famaey, GPGPU-Based Explicit Finite Element Computations for
Applications in Biomechanics: The Performance of Material Models, Element Technologies and Hardware Generations,
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 20(16):1643–1657, 2017.
29. Rodriguez-Vila, B., P. Sánchez-González, I. Oropesa, E.J. Gómez, D.M. Pierce, Automated Hexahedral Meshing
of Knee Cartilage Structures – Application to Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, Computer Methods in
Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 20(14):1543–1553, 2017.
28. Štrbac, V., D.M. Pierce, J. Vander Sloten, N. Famaey, Rupture Risk in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Realistic
Assessment of the Explicit GPU Approach, Journal of Biomechanics, 56(0):1–9, 2017.
27. Zhang, Y., K. Abiraman, H. Li, D.M. Pierce, A.V. Tzingounis, G. Lykotrafitis, Modeling of the Axon Membrane
Skeleton Structure and Implications for its Mechanical Properties, PLOS Computational Biology, 13(2):e1005407, 2017.
26. Santos, S., F.S. Maier, D.M. Pierce, Anisotropy and Heterogeneity of Bovine Articular Cartilage Under Large-Strain
Shear, Journal of Biomechanics, 52(0):74–82, 2017.
25. Kaleem, B., F.S. Maier, H. Drissi, D.M. Pierce, Low-Energy Impact of Human Cartilage: Predictors for Microcracking
the Network of Collagen, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 25(4):544–553, 2017.
24. Kaplan, J.T., C.P. Neu, H. Drissi, N.C. Emery, D.M. Pierce, Cyclic Loading of Human Articular Cartilage: The Transition
from Compaction to Fatigue, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 65(0):734–742, 2017.
23. Maier, F.S., H. Drissi, D.M. Pierce, Shear Deformations of Human Articular Cartilage: Certain Mechanical
Anisotropies Apparent at Large But Not Small Shear Strains, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical
Materials, 65(0):53–65, 2017.
22. Pierce, D.M., M.J. Unterberger, W. Trobin, T. Ricken, G.A. Holzapfel, A Microstructurally Based Continuum Model
of Cartilage Viscoelasticity and Permeability Incorporating Measured Statistical Fiber Orientations, Biomechanics
and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 15(1):229–244, 2016.
21. Pierce, D.M., T.E. Fastl, B. Rodriguez-Vila, P. Verbrugghe, I. Fourneau, G. Maleux, P. Herijgers, E.J. Gómez, G.A.
Holzapfel, A Method for Incorporating Residual Stretches/Stresses into Patient-Specific Simulations of Arteries,
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 47(0):147–164, 2015.
20. Pierce, D.M., F.S. Maier, H. Weisbecker, C. Viertler, P. Verbrugghe, N. Famaey, I. Fourneau, P. Herijgers, G.A.
Holzapfel, Human Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmal Tissues: Damage Experiments, Statistical Analysis
and Constitutive Modeling, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 41(0):92–107, 2015.
19. Weisbecker, H., D.M. Pierce, G.A. Holzapfel, A Generalized Prestressing Algorithm for Finite Element Simulation
of Pre-Loaded Geometries with Application to the Aorta, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical
Engineering, 30(9):857–872, 2014.
18. Tarjuelo-Gutierrez, J., B. Rodriguez-Vila, D.M. Pierce, T.E. Fastl, P. Verbrugghe, I. Fourneau, G. Maleux, P. Herijgers,
G.A. Holzapfel, E.J. Gómez, High-Quality Conforming Hexahedral Meshes of Patient-Specific Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysms Including Their Intraluminal Thrombi, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 52(2):159–168, 2014.
17. Weisbecker, H., C. Viertler, D.M. Pierce, G.A. Holzapfel, The Role of Elastin and Collagen in the Softening Behavior
of the Human Aortic Media, Journal of Biomechanics, 46(11):1859–1865, 2013.
16. Pierce, D.M., T. Ricken, G.A. Holzapfel, Modeling Sample/Patient-Specific Structural and Diffusional Responses of
Cartilage Using DT-MRI, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, 29(8):807–821, 2013.
15. Pierce, D.M., T. Ricken, G.A. Holzapfel, A Hyperelastic Biphasic Fiber-Reinforced Model of Articular Cartilage
Considering Distributed Collagen Fiber Orientations: Continuum Basis, Computational Aspects and Applications,
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 16(12):1344–1361, 2013.
14. Schriefl, A.J., A. Reinisch, S. Sankaran, D.M. Pierce, G.A. Holzapfel, Quantitative Assessment of Collagen Fiber
Orientations from 2D Images of Soft Biological Tissues, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 9(76):3081–3093, 2012.
13. Schriefl, A.J., M.J. Collins, D.M. Pierce, G.A. Holzapfel, L.E. Niklason, J.D. Humphrey, Remodeling of Intramural
Thrombus and Collagen in an Ang-II Infusion ApoE-/- Model of Dissecting Aortic Aneurysms, Thrombosis Research,
130(3):e139–e146, 2012.
12. Weisbecker, H., D.M. Pierce, P. Regitnig, G.A. Holzapfel, Layer-Specific Damage Experiments and Modeling of
Human Thoracic and Abdominal Aortas with Non-Atherosclerotic Intimal Thickening, Journal of the Mechanical
Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 12(0):93–106, 2012.
11. Schriefl, A.J., G. Zeindlinger, D.M. Pierce, P. Regitnig, G.A. Holzapfel, Determination of the Layer-Specific
Distributed Collagen Fiber Orientations in Human Thoracic and Abdominal Aortas and Common Iliac Arteries,
Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 9(71):1275–1286, 2012.
10. Pierce, D.M., B. Zeyen, B.M. Huigens, A.M. Fitzgerald, Predicting the Failure Probability of Device Features in
MEMS, IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability, 11(3):433–441, 2011.
9. Lilledahl, M.B., D.M. Pierce, T. Ricken, G.A. Holzapfel, C. de Lange Davies, Structural Analysis of Articular
Cartilage Using Multiphoton Microscopy: Input for Biomechanical Modeling, IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging,
30(9):1635–1648, 2011.
8. Pierce, D.M., W. Trobin, J. Raya, S. Trattnig, H. Bischof, C. Glaser, G.A. Holzapfel, DT-MRI Based Computation
of Collagen Fiber Deformation in Human Articular Cartilage: A Feasibility Study, Annals of Biomedical Engineering,
38(7):2447–2463, 2010.
7. Pierce, D.M., W. Trobin, G.A. Holzapfel, A Computational Framework for Patient-Specific Analysis of Articular
Cartilage Incorporating Structural Information from DT-MRI, GAMM-Mitteilungen, 32(2):157–177, 2009.
6. Pierce, D.M., W. Trobin, S. Trattnig, H. Bischof, G.A. Holzapfel, A Phenomenological Approach Toward
Sample-Specific Computational Modeling for Articular Cartilage Including Collagen Fiber Tracking, ASME Journal
of Biomechanical Engineering, 131:091006 (12 pages), 2009.
5. Fitzgerald, A.M., D.M. Pierce, B.M. Huigens, C.D. White, A General Methodology to Predict the Reliability of
Single Crystal Silicon MEMS Devices, IEEE/ASME Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 18(4):962–970, 2009.
4. Pierce, D.M., S.D. Sheppard, P.T. Vianco, A General Methodology to Predict Fatigue Life in Lead-Free Solder
Alloy Interconnects, ASME Journal of Electronic Packaging, 131:011008 (11 pages), 2009.
3. Pierce, D.M., S.D. Sheppard, P.T. Vianco, J.A. Regent, J.M. Grazier, Validation of a General Fatigue Life Prediction
Methodology for Sn-Ag-Cu Lead-Free Solder Alloy Interconnects, ASME Journal of Electronic Packaging, 130:011003
(12 pages), 2008.
2. Pierce, D.M., S.D. Sheppard, A.F. Fossum, P.T. Vianco, M.K. Neilsen, Development of the Damage State Variable
for a Unified Creep Plasticity Damage Constitutive Model of the 95.5Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu for Lead-Free Solder, ASME
Journal of Electronic Packaging, 130:011002 (10 pages), 2008.
1. Fossum, A.F., P.T. Vianco, M.K. Neilsen, D.M. Pierce, A Practical Viscoplastic Damage Model for Lead-Free Solder,
ASME Journal of Electronic Packaging, 128(1):71–81, 2006.

• Professor Pierce recognized as a United Technologies Corporation Professor in Engineering Innovation. This award recognizes the exceptional achievements of UConn's young faculty who exemplify excellence in the areas of research productivity and impact, teaching contributions, and service contributions and are at the very top of their area of research.
• Professors Feng (PI), Pierce (Co-PI), and Emadi (Co-PI) win R01 award from NIH. The collaborative project "The role of lumbar splanchnic innervations in visceral nociception and pain" aims to investigate lumbar splanchnic afferent neural encoding of colorectal distension and nociception at macro- and micro-mechanical, and molecular levels. The award from NIDDK is for $1,985,880.
• Professors Pierce (PI) and Neu (Co-PI) win award from NSF. The collaborative project "Biomechanical Simulations of Progressing Osteoarthritis to Advance Understanding and Therapies" aims to understand the influence of intra-tissue stress distributions on the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in human cartilage by leveraging new mechanical and imaging experiments, novel simulations of evolving virtual human cartilage in vivo, and longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs) from the NIH-funded Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) database. The award from CMMI BMMB is for $399,950.
• Professors Feng (PI) and Pierce (Co-PI) win award from NSF. The collaborative project "Understanding the Multiscale Mechanics of Nerve Endings to Address Visceral Pain" aims to understand the biomechanics of colorectal tissue and the micromechanical environment surrounding sensory nerve endings in both naïve colorectums and those with regenerated nerve endings (TNBS-treated). The award from CMMI BMMB is for $432,481.
• Professor Pierce Wins Funding Award from NSRDEC. The collaborative project, “Developing Biofidelic Models as Surrogates for Human Subjects in Protective Clothing and Individual Equipment and Augmentation Testing,” aims to understand and predict performance of Soldiers under various loading conditions to optimize physical performance and reduce the risk of injury. Cooperative Agreement W911QY-17-2-0002 from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) is for $115,000.
• Professor Pierce Wins NSF CAREER Award. His Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project "Understanding Collagen Microcracks in Soft Tissues Under Normal Body Loads" aims to pioneer a mechanistic understanding of microcrack propagation in the collagen network of cartilage by combining new micro-mechanical experiments with a novel multi-scale modeling framework for porous, fibrous materials. The award from CMMI BMMB is for $500,000.