Education
Master of Science Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University - Indianapolis
Bachelor of Science Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University – Indianapolis
Bio
Tanja Greene is an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and director of community outreach at Marian University’s E. S. Witchger School of Engineering. In these roles, she teaches undergraduate engineering courses, mentors students, and creates pathways for learners to take agency in their education. Her focus is on empowering students as leaders, encouraging them to design, facilitate, and guide hands-on learning opportunities for peers and precollege audiences. Greene is also trained in biomaterials and tissue engineering, having earned both her B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University in Indianapolis. Her graduate work centered on hydrogel systems, photopolymerization techniques, and biomaterial platforms for regenerative medicine and cell culture applications. This technical foundation informs her teaching and mentorship, where she blends rigorous engineering principles with a commitment to real-world impact.
Beyond the classroom, Greene has built an extensive portfolio of outreach leadership. She has served as director of Marian’s Summer Engineering Camp since 2022, and director of the Central Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CIRSEF) since 2017, leading efforts to expand access to STEM education. Under her direction, the Witchger outreach team has engaged thousands of students across Indiana. For instance, in 2023–24 the team participated in 17 events reaching over 1,200 precollege students, and in 2024–25 they expanded to 25 events connecting with more than 1,600 students. Programs included GEMS Days with the Girl Scouts, Pacers STEM Fest, robotics clubs, science fairs, and collaborations with schools across the region.
Through her combined expertise in biomedical engineering and passion for inclusive engagement, Greene has become a champion of student-centered learning. She empowers her students not only to succeed academically but also to serve as ambassadors for engineering, creating a ripple effect of inspiration and access throughout the community.
Courses Taught
Teaching Expertise
Research Interests
Greene’s research bridges biomaterials and biomedical engineering education. She is trained in the design and characterization of hydrogels for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, with experience in developing visible-light polymerized biomaterials for 3D culture and tissue regeneration. More recently, her scholarship has expanded to include STEM education research, with a focus on outreach effectiveness, retention in engineering pathways, and student agency within the classroom.
Selected Publications
Greene, T., Sirikumara, H., & Tran, B. (2023). An immersive summer camp designed for underrepresented populations and its effectiveness on increasing pre-college awareness and broadening participation in engineering (Evaluation). ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Carvell, J., & Greene, T. (2022). Benefits, drawbacks, and effects on retention rates to a 5-year, inclusive, dual degree engineering program. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Greene, T. (2022). Development and assessment of an introductory undergraduate course in biophysics. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Elhashmi, A., Alvarez, M. B., Bragg, J. C., Childress, P. J., Himes, E. R., Greene, T., … Chu, T. M. G. (2017). A fast-degrading thiol-acrylate based hydrogel for cranial regeneration. Biomedical Materials, 12(2), 025011.
Liu, H. Y., Greene, T., Lin, T. Y., Dawes, C. S., Korc, M., & Lin, C. C. (2017). Enzyme-mediated stiffening hydrogels for probing pancreatic stellate cell activation. Acta Biomaterialia, 48, 258–269.
Current Projects
Co-Principal Investigator – Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM, The Henry Luce Foundation ($300,000, 2023–present)
Awards and Honors
Professional Service and Affiliations
Committees and Boards
St. Luke Advisory Committee, Marian University (2025–present)
Admissions Committee, Marian University (2023–present)
Green Dot Facilitator, Marian University (2022-present): leading campus safety and bystander intervention training
Curriculum Committee, Witchger Engineering (2022–present)
Academic Advisor, Witchger Engineering (2017–present)
Perspective Student Engagement, Marian University and Witchger Engineering (2017–present)
Tau Beta Pi Chapter Advisor – Indiana Zeta (2017–present)
Memberships in Professional Organizations
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) (2022–present)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) (2022–present)
Women and Hi Tech (2022–present)
Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society (2013–present)
Personal Info
Professor Tanja Greene, better known to students as “Prof T,” is recognized for her approachable, quirky style and her passion for helping students succeed. Raised just south of Boggstown, Indiana, she embraces her country roots, preferring jeans and a t-shirt and brings warmth, humor, and energy to the classroom. Still living in the country, Greene commutes 45 minutes each way, ride sharing with her husband, an Marian University alumnus who also works at the university.
As a first-generation college student, Greene understands the challenges of navigating higher education and uses her own journey to encourage and support her students. She describes herself as slightly nerdy, deeply caring, and committed to finding a way forward no matter the challenge. Passionate and positive by nature, she reminds every student that while success requires effort and persistence, they CAN do this, and she will be there to help them along the way.
