Mark Riccio received his education, including a Masters in Electrical Engineering, from Cornell University and has been employed there since 1992. He began his Cornell career as a research engineer, continued as a cardiology/genomics engineer, and has been director of the imaging lab, the Cornell Multi Length Scale CT Facility since 2008. In his lab, Mark brings science to life with breakthrough imaging and discovery of materials in a way that had never been seen until the advent of high resolution, non-destructive 3D X-ray imaging ... allowing his constituency to see inside their critical structures without sacrificing their often-precious samples.

High-resolution X-ray CT provides non-destructive three-dimensional mapping of density, enabling topology, structural visualization and quantitative analysis for a wide variety of samples, including live vertebrate and invertebrate animals, insects, plants, fossils, electronics and materials.

Biomedical research often involves quantifying and understanding the dynamic processes occurring across scales, from genomes to patients. Non-invasive CT scanning using X-rays, creates digital 3D/4D/5D+ datasets quickly and with high spatial resolution. Such datasets enable both basic science and applied research, can improve teaching of complex biological processes, and can facilitate clinical translation of new treatments.

"Virtual Histology" is now possible on vertebrates, invertebrates, insects, fossils, electronic devices, ex-vivo specimen, etc.

Riccio has supported a number of specialized research projects for institutions such as American Museum of Natural History, Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Smithsonian, as well as companies like Corning. His breakthrough imaging of a shark's head gained much attention during the Discovery Channel's Shark Week. He has also supported organizations like the Natural History Museum of Denmark with the data acquired with 3D imaging to support their development of larger-than-life metal sculpture of tarantula anatomy for their spider exhibit. Additionally, his work has supported a number of 3D printing projects.

Riccio was the recipient of the Reinhard Rieger Award in Zoomorphology in 2013 (Journal of Morphology / WILEY InterScience, Zoomorphology) for the paper:
Homology of Lungs and Gas Bladders: Insights from Arterial Vasculature, along with co-authors Sarah Longo and Amy R. McCune.

He has 34 papers and been cited more than 1200 times with an impact factor nearing 165 on topics from electrical engineering, to cardiac electrophysiology, to 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging and analysis.

Riccio also holds US Patent 7,818,055 for Method of Identifying Strategies for Treatment or Prevention of Ventricular Fibrilation and Ventricular Tachycardia, issued October 19, 2010.