Stained cells of Paramecium caudatum a ciliate showing normal dividing and conjugating cells. generative ai

Innovations in bioengineering – from molecules to organisms

We harness the power of synthetic biology, proteomics and genomics, nanotechnology and polymer science to create and control microbial, cell biological and immune systems. Our research addresses challenges in respiratory infections, neural disorders, antimicrobial resistance, cancer, metabolic disorders, regenerative medicine, and synthesis of bioproducts.

Research Faculty

Rizia Bardhan portrait

Rizia Bardhan

Associate Professor, Jean H. Steffenson Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Nanomaterials for drug delivery and therapy
  • Metabolic profiling for patient-oriented diagnostics
  • Immunotherapies and immunoimaging
Ratul Chowdhury

Ratul Chowdhury

Assistant Professor, Black and Veatch, Building a World of Difference Faculty Fellow

Research Expertise

  • Computational Protein Design
  • AI/ML and Integer Optimization-driven algorithms
  • Enzyme engineering, Computational Immunology
Andy Hillier

Research Expertise

  • Nanomaterials
  • Electrochemistry
  • Optics and spectroscopy
Laura Jarboe

Laura Jarboe

Professor, Cargill Professor in Chemical Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Robust microbial cell factories
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Antibiotic resistance
Molly Kozminsky

Research Expertise

  • DNA-based technology
  • In vitro models
  • Tumor microenvironment
Surya K. Mallapragada portrait

Surya K. Mallapragada

Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering, Carol Vohs Johnson Chair
Associate Vice President for Research, Iowa State University Office of the Vice President for Research
Scientist, Ames Laboratory, Division of Materials Science and Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Biomaterials for drug and vaccine delivery
  • Neuro-regeneration
  • Bioinspired materials
Tom Mansell

Thomas (Tom) Mansell

Associate Professor, Karen and Dennis Vaughn Faculty Fellow

  • Live biotherapeutics
  • Synthetic biology
  • Glycoengineering
Balaji Narasimhan

Balaji Narasimhan

Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering, Vlasta Klima Balloun Faculty Chair

Research Expertise

  • Biomaterials-based nanovaccines for infectious diseases and cancer immunotherapy
  • Nanomedicines for treating neural disorders
  • Nanomedicines to counter antimicrobial resistance
Nigel Reuel

Nigel Reuel

Associate Professor, Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Advanced biomanufacturing
  • Industrial enzyme discovery and design
  • Cell free systems
Ian Schneider

Ian Schneider

Associate Professor

Research Expertise

  • Biomaterials to control cellular function
  • Mechanobiology and cellular decision making
  • DNA nanomaterials for drug delivery
Jackie Shanks

Research Expertise

  • Metabolic engineering in plants and microbes
  • Metabolic flux analysis
  • Phytoremediation
Zengyi Shao

Zengyi Shao

Associate Professor, Hershel B. Whitney Professor, Global Initiatives

Research Expertise

  • Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing
  • Metabolic engineering and biorenewables
  • Disease model and functional genomics
Jing Wang

Jing Wang

Assistant Professor

Research Expertise

  • Drug delivery and cell therapy
  • Protein engineering
  • Cancer immunology
Qun Wang portrait

Qun Wang

Research Assistant Professor

Research Expertise

  • Organoids
  • Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
  • Drug Discovery and Development