Research Statement |
| Professor Messersmith's research interests lie in the synthesis and characterization of novel materials using biomimetic/bioinspired approaches. Our long term goals are to design novel functional materials for use in the delivery of healthcare, and to develop unique nanostructured composite materials for aerospace applications. In the medical area, current research aims to develop minimally invasive (injectable) biomaterials suitable for use as surgical tissue adhesives and space-filling materials for hard and soft tissue repair, drug delivery and new tissue engineering strategies. In the aerospace area, current research aims to exploit biological strategies to develop new nanostructured composite structural materials consisting of nanostructured reinforcing elements dispersed within polymeric matrices. |
Education |
| 1993 |
Ph.D., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
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| 1987 |
M.S., Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
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| 1985 |
B.S., School of Life Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
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Positions |
| 1998- |
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
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| 1997-1998 |
Assistant Professor, Division of Biological Materials, Dental School, Northwestern University
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| 1994-1997 |
Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago
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| 1993-1994 |
Postdoctoral Scientist, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University
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Selected Honors |
| 2001 |
Study Section Boundary Team, Bioengineering Science and Technology IRG, NIH
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| 2000 |
Eugene Skinner Memorial Lecture, Northwestern University
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| 1998 |
Young Investigator Award, 6th International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissue
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| 1997 |
NIH First Award
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| 1991 |
Graduate Student Award Finalist, Materials Research Society
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