01
Growth in bioreactors
Mechanistic models of how stem cells proliferate in vertical-wheel bioreactors under shear and energy dissipation.
Ph.D. Researcher · Biomedical Engineering
Ferdinand “Reke” Avikpe
Researcher, educator, and community builder.
Can math grow a heart?
Human stem cells can, in principle, become any tissue in the body, but guiding them into functional heart and lung cells, reproducibly and at the scale medicine needs, is genuinely hard.
My research builds mechanistic, data-validated computational models of how these cells grow and differentiate in bioreactors, so the process can be understood, predicted, and manufactured toward real regenerative therapies.
Research
What I work on
02
Transport & maturation
Reaction–diffusion models of oxygen and nutrient transport inside stem-cell-derived cardiomyocyte aggregates.
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Heart & lung cell fate
Modeling how stem cells differentiate into cardiomyocytes and alveolar epithelial cells for regenerative medicine.
News & Press
Latest
Affiliations
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
University of Toronto
University Health Network
Massey College
Let's connect.
Research
Making cell fate predictable
Coupling mathematics and biology to understand and manufacture the cells of the heart and lungs.
My work focuses on in-silico models of how human pluripotent stem cells proliferate and differentiate in bioreactors, so we can guide them into cardiac and lung cells reliably, and at the scale regenerative medicine needs.
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Stem-cell growth in bioreactors
I develop and calibrate mechanistic, ODE-based models that describe how human pluripotent stem cells proliferate as aggregates in vertical-wheel bioreactors, integrating the effects of shear stress and energy-dissipation rate. Profile-likelihood identifiability analysis tells me which parameters the data can actually pin down, and which the model can't.
02
Transport & maturation of heart cells
I build reaction–diffusion frameworks for the transport of oxygen, glucose, lactate, and fatty acids inside stem-cell-derived cardiomyocyte aggregates, accounting for their real (non-spherical) spheroidal geometry and the way frequency-dependent electrical stimulation drives maturation.
03
Differentiation into heart & lung cells
Working with the Laflamme Lab and the Karoubi/Waddell Lab, I model how human pluripotent stem cells commit to becoming cardiomyocytes and alveolar epithelial cells, validating predictions against experimental data to inform and refine differentiation protocols.
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Engineering & science education
Alongside the lab work, I care about engineering and science education more broadly, from course and assessment design and curriculum development to open-ended, inquiry-based research experiences for students. The Discovery Program is one example of this work, and I have published it with the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
Publications & Talks
Publications
Peer-reviewed work, manuscripts in progress, and selected talks.
Status
Year
Selected talks
Teaching
Teaching & mentorship
I teach because I want more people to feel how fun real science is, and that they belong in it.
Teaching Philosophy
I teach because I want more people to feel how fun real science is, and to know that they belong in it. Whether I'm running a calculus tutorial, a chemistry review, or a research project with high-school students, my goal is the same. I want the ideas to feel reachable, and the room to feel like a place where it is safe to be wrong on the way to being right.
In practice, that means worked examples, honest and specific feedback, and a lot of patience. I try to meet students where they are, connect new ideas to things they already understand, and give them room to struggle productively before I step in.
Having learned in classrooms across two countries, and as an international student myself, I care deeply about building spaces where students from every background can thrive.
News & Press
News & press
Awards, milestones, and media coverage.
Year
About
Ferdinand Reke Avikpe
Driven by curiosity: blending research, leadership, and service.
I am a PhD researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network, where I develop computational models to understand how human pluripotent stem cells grow and differentiate into cardiac and lung cells. My research, supervised by Professor Cristina Amon, combines mathematical modeling, engineering, and stem cell biology to improve the reliability and scalability of regenerative medicine manufacturing.
Before joining the University of Toronto, I completed an Honours BSc in Biochemistry and a BA in Mathematics at the University of Winnipeg. It was there that I discovered the intersection of biology and mathematics and became fascinated by using computational models to better understand complex biological systems.
Beyond research, I am passionate about teaching, mentorship, science communication, and leadership. I enjoy supporting students, organizing conferences, and creating opportunities that help others connect with science and each other. I also volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross and University Health Network, where I continue to learn from patients, healthcare professionals, and the communities I serve.
Coming to Canada as an international student challenged me to adapt quickly, embrace new perspectives, and build connections across cultures. Those experiences continue to shape how I approach research, leadership, and collaboration.
Outside the lab, you will usually find me reading, discovering new restaurants, exploring Toronto, and playing a competitive game of Monopoly.
Awards & Honours
Service & Leadership
Building community in STEM
Governance, organizing, mentorship, and outreach, on and off campus.
Contact
Get in touch
Always glad to connect about stem-cell modeling, engineering education, or building community in STEM. The more specific your note, the better.
ferdinand.avikpe@mail.utoronto.ca avikpeferdinand@outlook.comInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
University Health Network · Toronto, ON, Canada
University Health Network · Toronto, ON, Canada