Anne L. van de Ven

Anne L. van de Ven, PhD is the Founder and Director of Northeastern’s Nanomedicine MS and Certificate programs, and a Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics. She is an engineer, educator, and entrepreneur who works at the intersection of nanomedicine, AI, and graduate education. Through her teaching, scholarship, and program leadership, Dr. van de Ven develops interdisciplinary educational models that prepare scientists to critically evaluate emerging technologies, lead innovation, and translate research into real-world patient impact.

Dr. van de Ven’s expertise spans drug delivery, nanotherapeutics, medical devices, imaging, and AI, with a focus on advancing emerging technologies that improve patient care. She has authored 37 publications and secured over $20M in research and educational funding. A recognized leader in AI-integrated scientific training, her current work focuses on preparing scientists to effectively and responsibly leverage AI in research, while examining its broader implications for graduate education and workforce development.

As a passionate advocate for broadening participation in STEM, Dr. van de Ven has pioneered multiple initiatives to expand access to research training and diversify the STEM workforce, including the Nanomedicine Academy of Minority Serving Institutions and the CaNCURE Cancer Nanomedicine Co-op Program. She is the recipient of the COS Excellence in Teaching Award for innovations in interdisciplinary teaching and the COS Excellence in Innovation Award for her efforts to integrate critical AI literacies into Northeastern’s graduate curricula. Today, her graduate courses in Nanomedicine research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and AI are attended by over 450 students per year.