Biomolecular Engineering
BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING
Director: Prajna Dhar, Ph.D.
Biomolecular engineering research integrates the fundamentals of biology, chemistry and mathematics with engineering problem-solving methods to prepare students for careers in industry, academia and public service. Program faculty solve biological problems to increase understanding of a variety of biological systems.
Chemical and biological systems are studied to ultimately provide solutions—in the form of measurement of properties and function, imaging, diagnosis or therapeutics. Research in this area involves collaborations among engineers, biological scientists, chemists, physicians and pharmaceutical scientists in industry, academia, surgery and clinical settings.
Students in this track use a core background of mathematics, basic sciences and therapeutics and engineering courses to conduct interdisciplinary research. Elective courses are selected to prepare each student for their unique problem in such areas as drug design or development, biological materials design, characterization of cellular function or malfunction, transport in biological systems or analysis of complex data.
Track Faculty
- Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Nanoparticles and Colloids in Pharmaceuticals and Biomedicine
Titles
Associate Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Computational Bioengineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Computational Molecular Design of Pharmaceuticals
Polymers and Other Biomaterials
Optimization Algorithms Applied to Engineering Systems
- Track Director, Biomolecular Engineering
- Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Molecular Engineering and Interfacial Nanomedicine
Titles
Associate Professor, Molecular Biosciences
Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention Program, University of Kansas Cancer Center
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Regulation of gene expression in colon cancer; Development of biomarker screening devices; Drug design and screening.
Titles
Professor, Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Single Molecule Spectroscopy
Model Membranes
Protein Channel Dynamics
Optical Microscopy/Spectroscopy
Fiber Optic Sensors
Development of Novel Microscopy Techniques
Titles
Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Kinetics and thermodynamics of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions; development and implementation of new biophysical methodologies and techniques for the study of these phenomena
Titles
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Applying Polymeric Nanomaterials to the Treatment and Diagnosis of Cancer
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Biomimetic Materials
Hydrogels
Tissue Engineering
Drug Delivery
Bioprocessing
Titles
Chancellors Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences and Endowed Professor
Professor and Director of Molecular Oncology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Deputy Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Director, Biospecimen Shared Resource
Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholar
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Molecular Oncology
Titles
Senior Scientist, University of Kansas Cancer Center
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Development of a three-dimensional breast cancer model to develop a novel anticancer agent that targets BRCA1
Titles
Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Associated Tracks
BioMolecular Engineering
Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Research Interests
Biocatalytics
Sustainability Analysis
Quantitative Sustainable Design
Titles
Director, University of Kansas Cancer Center
Director, Kansas Masonic Research Institute (KMCRI)
Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
William R. Jewell, MD Distinguished Kansas Masonic Professorship in Cancer Research
Chief Executive Offier, Midwest Cancer Alliance
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Expression and function of BRCA1 in breast tumorigenesis
Titles
Distinguished Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Physical Biochemistry, stabilization of macromolecules, vaccines
Titles
Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Metal-microbe interactions and effects on antibiotic resistance, analysis of environmental contaminants
Titles
Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
High Energy Theory, Single Molecule Methods, Pharmaceutical Data Analysis
Titles
Assistant Professor, Molecular Biosciences
Associated Tracks
Computational Bioengineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Transitions in single cells verses evolutionary fitness
Titles
Chair, Molecular Biosciences
Professor, Molecular Biosciences
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Protein Structure and Function
F1 ATPase Rotary Motor
Mechanism of Torque Generation and Nanodevice Fabrication
Titles
Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Utilizing cell adhesion molecules for targeted drug delivery and tissue engineering
Titles
KU Foundation Distinguished Professor, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Product Design & Development
Research Interests
Nano Devices and Microfluidics
Titles
Associate Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Design and analysis of chemical transport processes in which bioactive agents are released
Titles
Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Fabrication of selective oxygen permeable membrane reactors, production of biodiesel, production of synthesis gas (autothermal reforming), production of hydrogen (CO oxidation/LTWGS)
Titles
Professor, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Wastewater Treatment
Biological Processes
Algal Growth and Biodiesel Production
Molecular Methods
Titles
Distinguished Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Elucidation of protein-drug degradation pathways during storage, shipping and handling; development of new analytical approaches to characterize macromolecules and vaccines for use as pharmaceuticals; design and evaluation of formulations to improve stability of biopharmaceutical drugs and vaccines
Titles
Chair, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Albert P Learned Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
Associated Tracks
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Liquid-liquid Systems and Intensification
Enzymatic Catalysis
Ion-exchange and Adsorption
Titles
Professor and Chair, Cancer Biology
Associate Director for Basic Sciences
Associate Director for Education
Associated Tracks
Bioimaging
Computational Bioengineering
Biomolecular Engineering
Research Interests
Tumor progression, invasion, metastasis,
Titles
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Associated Tracks
Analytical Chemistry, Micro/Nanofluidics, Single Cell Analysis, Genetic Analysis, Proteomics, Cancer Biology and Diagnostics, Systems Biology, Nanobiotechnology
Research Interests
Quantitative analysis of dynamic and heterogeneous biological processes is key to deciphering complex biological systems, such as cancer. Drawing on microfluidics, analytical chemistry, molecular/cell biology, bioengineering, and material science, our research is dedicated to advancing quantitative biology and personalized medicine through technology innovation and translational research. We currently focus on three main areas: