M. Taher Saif

M. Taher Saif is a Bangladeshi American mechanical engineer, currently the Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor at the University of Illinois. He is known for his work in the pursuit of a cure to cancer.

Taher Saif studied civil engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He has a master's degree in civil engineering, a doctorate in electrical engineering, and a post-doctoral degree in mechanical engineering.

Professor Saif's research focuses on the mechanics of nanoscale materials and living cells. He uses both theory and experiment to explore (1) the effect of size on the mechanics of materials, and (2) the role of mechanical force in determining the functionality of cells and cell clusters. In 2024, Taher Saif was elected a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering.

Personal life
Taher Saif lives in Champaign, Illinois with his wife and children.