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Kristi Anseth awarded National Academy of Engineering's founders award

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:04:02 +0000

Kristi Anseth awarded National Academy of Engineering's founders award Jeff Zehnder Tue, 09/16/2025 - 11:04

Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth, of chemical and biological engineering, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Simon Ramo Founders Award by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) “for outstanding contributions to new bioresponsive polymeric materials and their applications in tissue engineering and for leadership in biomaterial science education and research.”

Anseth, also the associate faculty director of ��’s BioFrontiers Institute, designs biomaterials that interact with living tissues to promote repair and regeneration, aiding in healing injuries and diseases. Her lab works with hydrogels—a degradable biomaterial—to deliver molecules at the right time and sequence to accelerate the healing process. Her team is also growing miniaturized versions of heart cells and tissues, known as organoids, to better understand disease mechanisms and explore new types of heart disease treatments, such as to repair heart muscles after heart attacks.

Anseth is also among the select few innovators elected to all three National Academies: Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Beyond her scientific contributions, she has been recognized with more than 50 major awards and delivered over 60 honorary lectureships worldwide.

Read the NAE story

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Building community around electrochemistry and energy innovation

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:48:30 +0000

Building community around electrochemistry and energy innovation Jeff Zehnder Mon, 09/15/2025 - 08:48

Building on the momentum of the well-attended 2023 materials chemistry gathering, a new workshop brought together students, faculty and national lab staff from across the Front Range for a focused conversation on electrochemistry—with a strong emphasis on batteries, energy storage and the role of machine learning in accelerating innovation.

Professor Michael Toney, co-organizer for the 2025 Front Range Electrochemistry Workshop (FREW), explained that while the meeting broadly addressed electrochemical science, this year’s focus on batteries reflects their increasing relevance to everything from electric vehicles to renewable energy infrastructure.

“Electrochemistry is a very energy-efficient way of driving chemical reactions to produce useful products,” he said. “That includes emerging battery technologies, which are key to storing electricity generated by solar or wind when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.”

Among the invited speakers was Assistant Professor Kayla Sprenger, who spoke on her group's innovative approaches using simulations to model battery interfaces. The event aimed not only to highlight cutting-edge research—including the potential of AI to optimize battery materials and testing—but also to build community among graduate students and early-career researchers. As Toney noted, many students work in small lab groups and don’t always realize how many peers and potential collaborators are just a short drive away.

Co-organized with Eric Toberer, a physics professor at Colorado School of Mines, the workshop also included collaborative pitch sessions, where student teams proposed new research ideas for cash prizes. Pitch and poster session awardees included CEAS graduate students Loren Andrews, Rebecca Beswick, Peter Romero, Bryce Rives and Cindy Wong.

With around 100 attendees—mostly students—the event fostered both technical exchange and professional networking, creating space for new ideas, mentorship and cross-institution partnerships across the region.

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 21:48:35 +0000

Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow Jeff Zehnder Thu, 07/03/2025 - 15:48

Professor Wil Srubar has been named a fellow of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS), one of the highest honors for researchers in cement chemistry. Fellows of the American Ceramics Society are recognized for their contributions to the ceramics, cements and materials science community.

“Being named a Fellow of the American Ceramics Society is incredibly humbling,” Srubar said. “I’m honored to be included among such an accomplished group of peers who have advanced the field through research, innovation and service.”

Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

He recently served as the conference chair for the 15th Advances in Cement-Based Materials, held June 11-13 at the ��. Srubar also previously held several ACerS leadership roles, including cements division chair, chair-elect and secretary.

He will be recognized on Sept. 29 at the ACerS Honors and Awards Banquet during the society’s 127th annual meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m grateful to the mentors, collaborators and students who’ve shaped my journey and made this recognition possible,” Srubar said.

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Flickr Album: 2025 Materials Science and Engineering Graduation Ceremony

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:07:19 +0000

Flickr Album: 2025 Materials Science and Engineering Graduation Ceremony Jeff Zehnder Mon, 05/12/2025 - 10:07

Students, faculty, family, and friends marked the 2025 Materials Science and Engineering graduation in a special ceremony Friday, May 9.

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Kristi Anseth recognized with international VinFuture Prize for Women Innovators

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:11:54 +0000

Kristi Anseth recognized with international VinFuture Prize for Women Innovators Jeff Zehnder Mon, 12/16/2024 - 15:11

Kristi Anseth, a Distinguished Professor and Tisone Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious VinFuture Special Prize for Women Innovators in recognition of her pioneering research in tissue engineering. Winners were selected from nearly 1,500 scientific nominations spanning more than 80 countries and territories worldwide.

Anseth, also the associate faculty director of ��’s BioFrontiers Institute, said she was deeply honored to receive the recognition.

“It is one that I will cherish for years to come,” said Anseth after being presented with the award Dec. 6 at the 2024 VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam. “I thank the VinFuture Foundation for sponsoring this award to highlight the innovation of women in science and engineering.”

Anseth designs biomaterials that interact with living tissues to promote repair and regeneration, aiding in healing injuries and diseases. Her lab works with hydrogels—a degradable biomaterial—to deliver molecules at the right time and sequence to accelerate the healing process. Her team is also growing miniaturized versions of heart cells and tissues, known as organoids, to better understand disease mechanisms and explore new types of heart disease treatments, such as to repair heart muscles after heart attacks.

Anseth said she has been fortunate to work in the dynamic and evolving field of biomaterials and to be working at ��.

“The translation of bioengineering across biology and medicine remains a frontier with many opportunities to explore,” she said. "I believe that many of the major breakthroughs in the next decade will continue at this interface and lead to improvements in healthcare for people everywhere.

“�� has provided an amazing environment for a nearly 30-year career. I started as a faculty member in 1996, and the community of faculty and students has been an amazing environment to support my own learning and creativity. What’s the phrase—'minds to match our mountains’? I feel fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional people.”

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Jason Burdick elected to National Academy of Medicine

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:15:26 +0000

Jason Burdick elected to National Academy of Medicine Jeff Zehnder Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:15

Bowman Endowed Professor Jason Burdick of the BioFrontiers Institute and the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

"NAM membership reflects the height of professional achievement and commitment to service," and Jason was chosen "for innovative biomaterials and biofabrication techniques and their application as in vitro models of biological and disease processes, as well as therapies for the repair and regeneration of injured musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissues."

Jason's impactful work has also resulted in him being named among the Top 1% of Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics/Web of Science and founding multiple companies to translate his lab's work into biomedical solutions.

The NAM Class of 2024 includes 100 new members elected by current members, bringing total membership to over 2400.

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Register for the �� Innovation in Materials Symposium

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:59:30 +0000

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Flickr Album: Materials Science & Engineering Graduation 2024

Anonymous — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:34:28 +0000

Flickr Album: Materials Science & Engineering Graduation 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/13/2024 - 09:34

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CU Engineering faculty land prestigious multidisciplinary Department of Defense projects

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:20:15 +0000

CU Engineering faculty land prestigious multidisciplinary Department of Defense projects Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/22/2024 - 09:20

Three faculty members from the �� College of Engineering and Applied Science are conducting projects awarded through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Program.

The highly competitive research program has been enabling major contributions to military capabilities and producing commercial sector applications since 1985.

“Our college emphasizes collaboration across various research disciplines,” said Michael Gooseff, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “By prioritizing programs like MURI, we harness the diverse expertise across STEM fields to push the envelope for scientific breakthroughs.”

The three new MURI projects in the college include:

Mahmoud Hussein, professor in aerospace engineering sciences and in physics, will improve air flow across the wings and bodies of hypersonic aircraft through the use of phononic subsurface materials;
Francois Barthelat, professor in mechanical engineering, will develop and validate models for the failure of materials and structures under extreme loads; and
Scott Diddams, professor in electrical, computer and energy engineering and in physics, will examine the fundamental limits in heterodyne detection of thermal radiation with laser light.

Hussein is the main principal investigator and represents �� as the lead institution for that MURI project. Barthelat and Diddams will be collaborating on projects led by faculty from other peer institutions.

Each project will receive an average award of $7.5 million over the next five years.

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Quantum seed grants awarded to advance industry and university innovation projects in Colorado

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:11:37 +0000

Quantum seed grants awarded to advance industry and university innovation projects in Colorado Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/31/2024 - 09:11

�� today announced seven winners of the 2023-2024 translational quantum research seed grants incentivizing quantum science and technology innovations launched from the lab to accelerate them along the development path to new programs and businesses.

In April 2023, the Colorado Economic Development Commission approved nearly $1.5 million to help connect discoveries from basic and applied research to Colorado’s startup ecosystem and provide effective pathways for Colorado students to enter the quantum workforce. These translational quantum research seed grants, which are being administered by ��, are one of the first results of that funding.

“Colorado’s wealth of academic and national laboratory researchers, along with a thriving ecosystem of established and startup quantum science and technology companies, provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for students, researchers and our workforce,” said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene. “The goal of these seed grants is to help researchers accelerate their discoveries towards commercialization. The success of quantum translation, of which these grants are a part, also has important implications for our national economy and national security.”

The awarded projects—rooted in research advances with demonstrable commercial potential—include three led by university researchers, all from ��, and four led by commercial enterprises that are pioneering the translation of quantum discoveries into products and services driving economic and everyday impact for Colorado and society. Each award provides $50,000 to advance each project and will be deployed over a period of 18 months. Additional seed grants will be made available through a similar process in each of the next two years.

“Colorado leads the world in quantum innovation, quantum companies and quantum jobs,” said Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Executive Director Eve Lieberman. “The seed grants announced today are an important step to connect quantum discoveries in the lab to the commercial sector, continuing our state’s leadership in this important new technology and supporting the creation of new businesses and new jobs.”

The seed grants—which were made available to any Colorado research institution or industry partner—are part of an increasing investment to expand on Colorado’s longstanding reputation as a hub of quantum science and technology discovery. The region’s legacy in the global quantum community is largely a result of decades of leadership and breakthroughs emanating from the triad of ��, NIST and JILA, including four Nobel Prizes in physics awarded to affiliated quantum researchers.

In the context of an accelerating global competition to realize the vast potential promised by quantum science and technology, the push for quantum advances has been the focus of considerable public- and private-sector investment across industries in recent years. In Colorado, quantum-related activity is extending beyond the traditional Boulder triad to include a growing web of interconnected ventures that are inventing and innovating to translate research advances into commercially viable products that advance frontiers of quantum to benefit society broadly.

The CUbit Quantum Initiative at ��—a leading player in both administering the grant program and facilitating the success of the university’s quantum research productivity—is an interdisciplinary hub for quantum research intended to advance the quantum ecosystem broadly. Crafted to focus the nexus of ��, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s physics division (as a core component of JILA) and quantum-focused companies, CUbit aims to advance fundamental science and build a strong foundation for novel quantum technologies and their rapid dissemination, application and commercialization.

“Colorado already has the highest number of quantum-related companies in the nation,” said Scott Sternberg, executive director of CUbit. “These grants, and those in upcoming years, will help keep the translation pipeline healthy and thereby grow our economy.”

Categories:

Quantum Science & Technology

Translational Quantum Research Seed Grant Awards

*All awards are $50,000 and for a duration of 18 months

Longji Cui: “Quantum electronics driven photocatalysis for efficient clean fuel generation and decarbonization”
��; Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering
Charlie Danaher: “Adaptive cooling technology”
Danaher Cryogenics, Ltd.
Rozhin Eskandarpour: “Translating quantum contingency analysis from lab to the field”
Resilient Entanglement Inc.
Murray Holland: “Developing a strontium optical lattice atom interferometer”
��; Department of Physics
Poolad Imany: “Scalable optical cavity nonfabrication for efficient entanglement generation with artificial atoms”
Icarus Quantum, Inc.
Philip Makotyn: “Enabling technology for quantum applications: narrow linewidth innovative lasers”
Vexlum US
Greg Rieker: “Carcinogenic air pollutant monitoring with dual-comb spectroscopy”
��; Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering

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News

Kristi Anseth awarded National Academy of Engineering's founders award

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Building community around electrochemistry and energy innovation

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

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Flickr Album: 2025 Materials Science and Engineering Graduation Ceremony

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Kristi Anseth recognized with international VinFuture Prize for Women Innovators

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Jason Burdick elected to National Academy of Medicine

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Register for the ���������� Innovation in Materials Symposium

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Flickr Album: Materials Science & Engineering Graduation 2024

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CU Engineering faculty land prestigious multidisciplinary Department of Defense projects

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Quantum seed grants awarded to advance industry and university innovation projects in Colorado

Translational Quantum Research Seed Grant Awards

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Register for the �� Innovation in Materials Symposium