Richard Cliver is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate advised by Dr. Kristan Worthington in the University of Iowa’s Biomedical Engineering program. He completed his B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University. Richard’s research areas include investigating in vitro modeling of matrix stiffening and the mechanotransduction of chorioretinal cells in Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Richard is also studying chorioretinal and iPSC interactions under simulated microgravity and radiation in devices such as Rotating Wall Vessel bioreactors with the objective of developing countermeasures to Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome.

Outside of the lab, Richard enjoys hiking, kayaking, and powerlifting, and frequently travels the US.