Abstract: Natural tissues exhibit a wide range of structural features that play a critical role in their functional performance. However, cell studies are most commonly performed using monolayer culture, tissues are typically engineered using a homogenous and isotropic distribution of cells, while growth factors generally delivered via bulk mass transport from the media. In this talk, I will discuss methods that can be used to leverage control over these culture practices to generate more advanced cell systems or more realistic engineered tissues. These include the use of ultrasound standing waves to create programmed assemblies of cells for aligned tissue engineering, and the development of a new buoyancy-based platform for creating biomaterials encoded with morphogen gradients capable of guiding local cell differentiation and matrix assembly.