Biography
Dr. Stefan Lohfeld is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry. He received his MSc in Production Engineering with a focus on Materials Science from the University of Bremen (Germany) and his PhD in Materials Science from RWTH Aachen University. His early research included work at the DECHEMA Institute (Frankfurt) on high-temperature materials, followed by postdoctoral training in biomedical engineering at the University of Galway (Ireland), where he contributed to the development of maxillofacial and orthopedic implants, as well as vascular access and closure devices for minimally invasive interventions.
Dr. Lohfeld’s research focuses on the design of biomaterials and medical devices for tissue regeneration and minimally invasive therapies. His work centers on: (1) microsphere-based 3D printing of biodegradable scaffolds for bone and osteochondral tissue engineering, including integrated drug delivery strategies; (2) application-driven development of stimuli-responsive and shape-memory biomaterials, including polymers and metals, for deployable implant systems; and (3) translation of these technologies into clinically relevant devices for craniofacial, orthopedic, and otologic applications.
His research integrates materials science, additive manufacturing, and device engineering, with an emphasis on mechanically functional and clinically deployable solutions. He has led and contributed to funded research projects in Europe and the United States and collaborates across engineering and clinical disciplines. He works with undergraduate and graduate students on research projects in biomaterials, additive manufacturing, and medical device development.