• 2nd-year Interdisciplinary Doctorate (IDoc) student at Tufts University’s Silklab
• Researching advanced bioresponsive materials and wearable interfaces for monitoring key aspects of vaginal and reproductive health

Asli Dirik is a 2^nd-year Interdisciplinary Doctorate (IDoc) student at Tufts University’s Silklab, a multidisciplinary research lab focused on leveraging the unique properties of silk and other natural materials to create a wide range of products, including biomedical devices, wearable sensors, and sustainable packaging. Under the mentorship of Levy CIMAR faculty member, Silklab Director, and Frank C. Doble Professor of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Fiorenzo Omenetto, Asli works at the intersection of biology, chemistry, engineering, and design to address persistent gaps in women’s health innovation and promote equity in healthcare.

Asli’s research focuses on the development of advanced bioresponsive materials and wearable interfaces for monitoring key aspects of vaginal and reproductive health.  By leveraging the structural and biochemical versatility of silk fibroin—a protein derived from silkworms—she explores new strategies for stabilizing and enhancing the performance of responsive sensing platforms. This work involves the integration of selective colorimetric chemistries and biological analyte detection within smart textiles, offering the potential for real-time, user-friendly health insights.

Asli works closely with Levy CIMAR faculty member and Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Fatima Hussain, for sensor assessment testing using female genital tract bacteria grown in the lab. This work has allowed her to understand the sensitivity and specificity of the bioresponsive materials to real patient samples.

The Tufts IDoc program is designed for those interested in pursuing studies in areas that cannot be accommodated by an individual doctoral program within the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering. Asli’s unique work is rooted in interdisciplinary methods, combining material science, biomolecular engineering, and product design. She investigates how the unique properties of silk can be harnessed to create biocompatible and durable interfaces suitable for continuous and comfortable wear. Her work includes systematic studies on the interactions between silk matrices, colorimetric reagents, and biological fluids, with an emphasis on optimizing sensor responsiveness, longevity, and accuracy under physiological conditions.

Through her research at Tufts Silklab and with Dr. Hussain, Asli aims to set new standards for innovation in the “fem-tech” (technology focusing on female health) field and contribute to a future where women everywhere can obtain precise, equitable, and accessible healthcare tools.

Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, where she explored many cultures and their artistic identities, Asli did not expect to become a scientist. She came to Tufts after first pursuing art and design, earning a Foundation Diploma at the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University (UK). That is where she ultimately combined visual arts and 3D design with biology and science.

Inspired by the ability of design to build bridges between different disciplines and solve both personal and global problems, Asli went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Product and Industrial Design at UAL Central Saint Martins (UK) where she practiced research-led, user-centered product and user experience design. During her studies, she worked in textiles as a product development assistant. This ultimately inspired her research goal to develop smart textile products using chemically sensing fabrics to help individuals detect and heal women’s health-related problems for her thesis project.