My research focuses on the design and development of advanced drug and nucleic acid delivery systems based on the elucidation of fundamental mechanisms of intracellular processing of biomaterials. This innovative approach results in new knowledge of biological pathways, the discovery of structure-function relationships of biomaterials, and the construction of highly effective delivery systems for several biomedical applications.
Engineering of advanced drug delivery systems with an emphasis on human gene therapy for the prevention control and treatment of disease.
1997 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
1990 B.S. (summa cum laude), Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2012-present Ashland Inc. Chair in Chemical Engineering
2012-present Professor of Chemical & Materials Engineering and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky
2009-2012 Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois
2007-2012 Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois
2006- 2012 Affiliate Faculty, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois
2005-2009 Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois
2004- 2012 Affiliate Faculty, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2003- 2012 Research Faculty, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2000- 2012 Biotechnology Center Faculty, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2000-2004 Faculty of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1999-2005 Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1996-1998 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2008 Xerox Award for Faculty Research, College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2007 Multi-Year Faculty Achievement Award, College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2007 Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2006 Alumni Discretionary Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2006 Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2004-2005 Beckman Fellow, Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2004 Controlled Release Society/Genencor Outstanding Consumer & Diversified Products Paper Award
2003-2006 3M Young Faculty Award
2003 Excellence in Teaching Award, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2002-2007 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation
2000 Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students, Fall 2000, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2000 Excellence in Teaching Award, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2000 Collins Scholar, Academy for Excellence in Engineering Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1997-1999 National Institutes of Health Post-doctoral Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1996 Distinguished Graduate Student Lectureship, California Institute of Technology
1995 Materials Research Society Graduate Student Award
1991-1994 Landau Fellowship, California Institute of Technology
1990 University Scholar, University of Illinois
1990 Senior Alumni Award (Chemical Engineering), University of Illinois
