The UGA School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering offers unique, interdisciplinary programs to support development of creative solutions for human health and wellness and transition to a sustainable bio-economy. A vibrant academic environment exists that fosters engineering education in a liberal arts environment and research that addresses critical societal needs.

Venn Diagram image with circles representing "Biomanufacturing," "Medical Devices & Biomaterials," and "Next-Gen Advanced Therapeutics"

Biomanufacturing

The school has an established history of translational research for high-value biological products through enzymatic, microbial and mammalian cell approaches. The faculty utilize their collective expertise in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, fermentation and biocatalysis to study and develop renewable chemicals, biofuels and pharmaceutical products. Additionally, faculty working with the New Materials Institute are focused on the design of new bio-based polymers guided by green engineering principles in ways that minimize waste, promotes sustainability, and protects human health. Numerous companies are partnering with leading researchers in the institute to accelerate technology translation through advanced materials testing and evaluation. Research in the Institute includes circular materials management, advanced polymers, fibers & coatings, and technology development.

Faculty MemberAreas of ExpertiseWebsite
Mark EitemanMetabolic engineering
Bioprocess engineering
Fermentation technology
https://cmbe.engr.uga.edu/index.html
Jim KastnerBiochemical engineering
Environmental, nanostructured and chemical catalysts
Enhanced biomass pyrolysis and gasification processes
Jason LocklinBio-based Polymers
Smart surfaces
Interfacial characterization
http://jlocklin.uga.edu/
Sudhagar ManiBioenergyhttps://www.biomass.engr.uga.edu/
Rama RamasamyElectrochemical energy
Biological electrochemistry
Bionanocomposite materials
http://www.ramasamy.uga.edu/
Yajun YanMetabolic Engineering
Protein Engineering
Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals
https://sites.google.com/site/yajunyanugalab
Medical Devices & Biomaterials

Medical devices have transformed human healthcare during the past half century, from the development of rapid diagnostic devices to medical implants to restore physiological functions to bioinstruments that sustain life following severe trauma. Our faculty are engaged in multi-disciplinary research to improve these devices even further by studying synthetic and natural biomaterials that can prevent thrombosis and infection, accelerate wound healing, or support cell growth in tissue engineered devices. Ongoing exploration of new materials and devices at the interface of engineering, physical, chemical and health sciences provide the enabling building blocks for realization of systems with transformational capabilities necessary to meet societal needs.

Faculty MemberAreas of ExpertiseWebsite
Elizabeth BrisboisAntimicrobial and Hemocompatible Interfaces
Anti-inflammatory Biomaterials
Insulin Delivery
Polymer and Small Molecule Chemistry
Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials
http://brisboislab.uga.edu/
Cheryl GomillionTissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine
Cell-Biomaterial Interactions
Multi-functional Biomaterials
Pre-Clinical Tissue Modeling Systems
Cell-based Therapeutics
http://gomillionlab.engr.uga.edu/
Hitesh HandaBiomaterials for Medical Device Applications
Nitric Oxide Releasing Materials
Blood-Material Interactions
Antimicrobial and Hemocompatible Materials
Wound Healing Materials
https://handalab.uga.edu/
Ross A. MarkleinCell Manufacturing
Single Cell Analysis
High Content Imaging
Biomaterials
Tissue Engineering/Regenerative Medicine
Stem Cell Biology
https://ramlab.uga.edu/
William KisaalitaTissue engineering
Cell-surface interactions
Assays for high throughput screening (HTS)
Renewable energy utilization with emphasis on biogas-powered cooling
Global service learning
https://microtissue.engineering.uga.edu/
Rama RamasamyElectrochemical energy
Biological electrochemistry
Bionanocomposite materials
http://www.ramasamy.uga.edu/
Advanced Therapeutics

Research that addresses challenges to human health and wellness draws on many engineering disciplines within the school and leverages the University of Georgia’s strengths in allied areas in other units across campus. Investigators are using a combination of computational and experimental methods to study mechanisms of disease initiation and progression, drug discovery and delivery systems, and biomolecular and cellular therapies, including regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Many of the faculty are affiliated with the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT). The objective of the center is to transform the manufacture of cell-based therapeutics, including stem cells, CAR-T cells and cardiomyocytes, into a large-scale, lower-cost, reproducible, and high-quality engineered process for broad industry and clinical use.

Faculty MemberAreas of ExpertiseWebsite
Rodney AverettComputational mechanical modeling
Experimental multiscale biomechanics
https://raverett6.wixsite.com/averett-lab
Cheryl GomillionTissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine
Cell-Biomaterial Interactions
Multi-functional Biomaterials
Pre-Clinical Tissue Modeling Systems
Cell-based Therapeutics
http://gomillionlab.engr.uga.edu/
K. Melissa HallowDynamic modeling of physiology
Pharmacology
Cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and diabetes progression
http://hallowlab.uga.edu/
Ross A. MarkleinCell Manufacturing
Single Cell Analysis
High Content Imaging
Biomaterials
Tissue Engineering/Regenerative Medicine
Stem Cell Biology
https://ramlab.uga.edu/
Luke J. MortensenIntravital imaging
Multi photon microscopy
Confocal microscopy
Laser ablation
Cell therapy
Regenerative medicine
http://www.mortensen.uga.edu/
James N WarnockCell & Gene Therapy
Cell Manufacturing
Engineering education & workforce development
Seminar Series

The CMBE Seminar Series features prominent members of the biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering or chemical engineering communities who visit campus to share their insights and meet with faculty and students in the School.

The CMBE School Chair will invite up to two speakers each Fall and Spring semester, and nominations will be considered on a rolling basis. Nominations for the CMBE Seminar Series may be submitted via this link. Speakers must be senior faculty members, department heads (or equivalent), or research center directors to be considered.

Nominators are expected to serve as hosts for their selected speaker. The School will cover all travel expenses for speakers and provide a nominal honorarium.

The School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering hosts a regular series of brown bag lunches and research seminars for faculty, staff and post-docs. The faculty research seminars will be held on the last Tuesday of each month at 1:00pm, following a brown bag lunch beginning at 12:30 p.m.


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