PhD

Scientists develop hydrogel platform that mimics human tissue

Susan Glairon — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:55:27 +0000

Scientists develop hydrogel platform that mimics human tissue Susan Glairon Thu, 03/12/2026 - 16:55

Susan Glairon

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (purple) interact with a hydrogel matrix (green). In viscoelastic materials, the cells can spread and reshape the matrix.

For decades, lab-grown cells have been studied in materials that don’t reflect the softness and flexibility of human tissue.

Bruce Kirkpatrick

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a water-rich, Jell-O-like material that more closely mimics how real tissues move, stretch and relax and whose liquid or solid state can be precisely controlled by light.

The work was recently published in the journal Matter and was directed by Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth.

These new hydrogels will help scientists understand how mechanical cues from tissues affect cells, said Bruce Kirkpatrick, (PhDBioEngr'25), the paper’s first author and a third-year medical student. These insights could help improve our understanding of disease and how cells respond to drugs. It could also shed light on cell development—how stem cells mature into specialized cell types.

“The convention of growing cells on plastic for drug testing is problematic because plastic is stiff, while human tissue is flexible,” Kirkpatrick said. “Unless you're studying bone or other cells adapted to rigid environments, it’s not an appropriate mechanical setting for studying how cells respond to drugs.”

Kirkpatrick added that a key advantage of the hydrogel-based cell culture platform is its three-dimensional structure, which better reflects the environment cells experience in the body.

“The material we developed will help researchers better understand how mechanical environments influence cell behavior, not just the biochemical cues cells receive through surrounding liquid and nearby cells,” he said.

Shaped by light

Lea Hibbard

Most hydrogels form spontaneously when two liquids are mixed, but these gels provide less control and precision than the newly developed materials, Kirkpatrick said. In addition, researchers traditionally have shaped hydrogels using extrusion printing, a process similar to squeezing Play-Doh through a tube.

Instead, Kirkpatrick and the research team combined the new hydrogel’s dynamic properties with photopolymerization, using light to transform liquids into solids and encapsulate cells during three-dimensional printing. The new approach is faster and provides precise control over shape and material properties, Kirkpatrick said.

“With photopolymerization, we can control exactly how much light is applied, where it goes and when the hydrogel forms,” Kirkpatrick added. “The amount of light determines how much the material gels and its resulting mechanical properties. It gives researchers control over the shape, timing of cell encapsulation and spatial variation in properties.”

For example, if cells are encapsulated in a droplet and one side is exposed to light for only a few seconds while the other receives a longer or stronger dose, researchers can study what happens at the boundary between those regions, observing how cells migrate between them and how differences in mechanical properties influence their behavior.

Abhishek Dhand

The researchers also studied intestinal organoids—tiny lab-grown versions of the intestine—to see how they behaved in different environments. In the body, these cells exist in a soft, viscoelastic environment, where tissues stretch or deform under stress.

When the team placed the organoids in a hydrogel with similar properties, the cells took on natural shapes and expressed the right proteins. In other words, they behaved like they do inside the body.

“These findings suggest that viscoelasticity is essential for proper cell function and organization,” Kirkpatrick said.

Next steps

The researchers’ long-term goal is to use three-dimensional printing to produce large, cell-laden arrays of the new material for drug testing or disease modeling. This approach allows them to quickly create identical samples with high quality control and study how cells respond to gene mutations—such as removing a disease-linked gene—or to varying drug concentrations in the hydrogel environment.

The material could also help scientists study fundamental processes, such as how embryos organize cells to form correctly shaped organs, and investigate diseases like fibrosis, in which the body overproduces scar tissue in response to injury or chronic inflammation.

Co-first authors Abhishek Dhand, (PhDBioMedEngr’25), and PhD student Lea Hibbard (ChemBioEngr’24) contributed equally to this study. 91��ý faculty involved in the project included Professor Jason Burdick, Distinguished Professor Christopher Bowman and Professor Tim White.

A new light-controlled hydrogel developed at 91��ý mimics the movement and flexibility of real tissue, giving scientists a more realistic way to study cells and disease.

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New study shows how certain immune cells slow the body’s response to infection

Susan Glairon — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:52:08 +0000

New study shows how certain immune cells slow the body’s response to infection Susan Glairon Tue, 03/10/2026 - 11:52

Hannah Weppner

Research led by Hannah Weppner, a graduate student in the lab of Assistant Professor Laurel Hind, highlighting how a population of immune cells can weaken the body’s response to infection, was recently published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology and featured in the newsletter of the International Society for Lymphatic Biology (ISLB).

Using an infection-on-a-chip model with human cells, Hind and her team found that a population of immune cells called M-MDSCs can slow the recruitment of neutrophils—the body’s first responders—to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. The researchers also identified a signaling molecule, IL-10, that plays a key role in this process. When IL-10 was blocked, neutrophils were able to move normally again.

The findings reveal a new way infections can weaken the immune response and show how advanced human cell models help researchers study immune cell interactions.

Read the ISLB Q&A Read the journal paper

Assistant Professor Laurel Hind’s lab discovered how certain immune cells can suppress the body’s response to infection, using advanced human cell models.

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PhD student Erin Dunphy honored with Ludo Frevel Scholarship

Susan Glairon — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:07:01 +0000

PhD student Erin Dunphy honored with Ludo Frevel Scholarship Susan Glairon Thu, 02/12/2026 - 16:07

Susan Glairon

Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD student Erin Dunphy has won the prestigious International Centre for Diffraction Data’s Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship, which recognizes research promise in the field of crystallography. Crystallography, the science of figuring out how atoms are arranged inside a solid material, has been essential in developing X-ray, electron and neutron diffraction methods to reveal the atomic structure of materials.

Tell me about your research

My research examines how polymers (long-chain molecules) and hydrocarbon (molecules made of hydrogen and carbon, such as fuels) attach to the surface of Ruthenium-based catalysts, which are used to speed up chemical reactions. Understanding this interaction is critical to improving catalytic processes for polymer upcycling, an innovative approach for converting plastic wastes into valuable products, such as jet fuels. By studying these interactions at the atomic level, we gain insight into how the materials bind and react, helping guide the design of more efficient catalysts.

What does receiving the Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship Award mean to you?

Receiving the Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship is a great honor that marks a milestone for my academic career. It's exciting that my research inspires others and reminds me that fundamental research is critical to the development of new technologies.

How will this scholarship support your research or academic goals?

Receiving this scholarship reinforces my commitment to tackling complex scientific challenges by developing techniques that deliver real-world solutions. I aim to continue pushing boundaries at the intersection of fundamental science and technology development.

What drew you to crystallography as a research focus?

My first experience with advanced crystallography was during a science undergraduate laboratory internship when I worked at the National Synchrotron Light Source II. While there, I realized that materials optimization, improving a material’s properties so it performs as well as possible for a specific application, is often the key bottleneck limiting progress in energy and infrastructure technologies.

What are you most excited to work on?

I am excited to finish my 91��ý research and to defend my thesis in June. I am performing my final single-crystal diffraction studies at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France. This technique allows scientists to map the atomic structure at the crystal interface.

For these experiments, I designed a custom reaction chamber that can operate at temperatures up to 250°C and pressures of 15 bar, allowing us to study materials under realistic working conditions. I also developed specialized software that processes and analyzes the data in real time.

What are your future research or career goals?

My sights are set on integrating renewable energy onto an industrial scale. Plastics recycling using catalysis offers a route to sustainable fuel generation which is part of creating a circular energy infrastructure. Ultimately using multiple forms of green energy generation (solar, wind) is all a part of the renewable energy infrastructure.

I hope to work with industry professionals to optimize new technologies and streamline deployment onto national and international scales.

How do you hope your work will contribute to the field?

My research looks at how molecules or atoms (called adsorbates) attach to the surface of a single crystal under realistic conditions for thermal catalysis. I hope my work encourages other researchers to study surfaces in environments that go beyond the extremely clean, ultra-high vacuum conditions typically used to more real-world operating conditions. Ultimately, my work helps expand surface science to investigate materials in contact with liquids, oils and membranes under practical pressures and temperatures, making the findings more relevant to real-world applications such as in thermal catalysis.

Dunphy's research involves studying interactions at the atomic level to design more efficient catalysts for polymer upcycling, an innovative approach for converting plastic wastes into valuable products, such as jet fuels.

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Wyatt Shields receives Grubstake Award to advance treatment toward clinical use

Susan Glairon — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:06:34 +0000

Wyatt Shields receives Grubstake Award to advance treatment toward clinical use Susan Glairon Thu, 01/22/2026 - 14:06

Assistant Professor Wyatt Shields

High-grade serous carcinoma is the deadliest form of ovarian cancer, and while a drug called olaparib can help prevent the cancer from returning, it often causes serious side effects. To address this challenge, Wyatt Shields, assistant professor in 91��ý’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Benjamin Bitler, associate professor in the CU Anschutz Division of Reproductive Sciences and CU PhD Student Courtney Bailey have developed a new way to deliver the drug more safely. Their approach uses tiny, biodegradable particles carried by immune cells to deliver treatment directly to tumors, helping reduce harmful effects on the rest of the body. Funding totaling $300,000 from the Gates Institute at University of Colorado Anschutz, in partnership with CU Anschutz Innovations, will support the next steps to move this technology closer to clinical use.

Read more at University of Colorado Anschutz News...

Assistant Professor Wyatt Shields along with other researchers have developed a safer, targeted way to deliver an ovarian cancer drug using immune cell–carried particles, supported by $300,000 in Gates Institute funding to advance it toward clinical use.

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Alumnus Alexander Osterbaan featured in UV+EB Technology

Susan Glairon — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:54:27 +0000

Alumnus Alexander Osterbaan featured in UV+EB Technology Susan Glairon Tue, 12/09/2025 - 14:54

By creating UV-sensitive materials and innovative 3D printing resins, alumnus Alexander Osterbaan (PhD ChemEngr'25) has made it possible to print detailed, high-quality parts more efficiently. His work brings new possibilities to light-based manufacturing.

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PhD student’s work on engineered adhesives wins national recognition

Susan Glairon — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:46:37 +0000

PhD student’s work on engineered adhesives wins national recognition Susan Glairon Mon, 03/24/2025 - 11:46

Susan Glairon

Paula Pranda, a chemical and biological engineering PhD student, earned the top student honor at the Adhesion Society meeting for her research on aligned Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) adhesives. The society’s annual meeting was held Feb. 16-19 in New Orleans.

Pranda received the Alan Gent Distinguished Student Paper Award, recognizing the most distinguished paper among top students who had previously won the Peebles Award for outstanding graduate research in adhesion science. The Adhesion Society advances adhesion science, promotes education and honors achievements in the field.

“Winning this award is an incredible honor,” said Pranda, who works with 91��ý’s Hayward Research Group and Responsive and Programmable Materials Group. “It’s validating as a young researcher and exciting because it shows that the scientific community values our work.”

LCEs are soft, stretchy materials with a unique structure formed by liquid crystal monomers, which have a long oval shape. Using specific processing methods, these monomers can be aligned in one direction. When stretched along this alignment, the polymer behaves like a classic elastomer, meaning it can stretch and return to its original shape. However, when stretched perpendicular to the alignment, it becomes much softer and stretchier as energy is dissipated into rotating the monomers.

91��ý and the 3M Company research team leveraged this property to develop pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). Their findings showed that the peel strength depends on monomer orientation—adhesives are harder to remove when monomers are perpendicular to the peeling direction. By using a laser to pattern different alignments, the team was able to create adhesives with regions of varying peel force.

“This award is a testament to the community's excitement about Paula’s findings on how adhesion can be tailored using LCEs, and her outstanding presentation,” said Professor Ryan Hayward, the director of the Hayward Research Group and the department chair. "Tim (White) and I are very proud of Paula—it has been a true pleasure collaborating with her on this project.”

Directional control of adhesion offers many potential applications, Pranda said. In diabetic ports, patterned LCE adhesives can ensure strong skin adhesion while allowing painless removal in a specific direction. Similarly, for screen protectors, aligning monomers perpendicular to common failure points can prevent edge peeling, while parallel alignment allows for easy removal when needed.

“This recognition means so much,” Pranda said. “I couldn’t have achieved it without the support of my amazing mentors and collaborators at 91��ý and the 3M Company—especially Professor Ryan Hayward, Professor Tim White, Hyunki Kim, Aaron Hedegaard, Jason Clapper and Eric Nelson.”

Paula Pranda, a 91��ý PhD student, won the top student award at the Adhesion Society's annual meeting for her research on Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) adhesives. Her work has potential applications in medical devices and screen protectors among others.

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91��ý PhD student takes Materials Research Society's top graduate prize

Susan Glairon — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 22:13:19 +0000

91��ý PhD student takes Materials Research Society's top graduate prize Susan Glairon Mon, 01/13/2025 - 15:13

Susan Glairon

Luis Kitsu Iglesias, a fifth-year PhD candidate in Professor Mike Toney’s lab, received the prestigious gold award—the highest graduate student honor—at the 2024 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS) for his exceptional battery research. The renowned international conference brings together experts from around the globe to showcase and discuss the latest advancements in materials science.

Initially selected as a finalist for the MRS Graduate Student Award, Kitsu Iglesias of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, received the award after presenting his sodium-ion battery research at the MRS fall meeting in Boston on Dec. 3.

“This award marks a personal milestone and highlights the significance of advancing sustainable battery technologies,” Iglesias said. “It underscores the urgency of addressing challenges like energy, equity and environmental responsibility through research.”

Iglesias’s research focuses on advancing sodium-ion batteries as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, addressing challenges like safety, cost, limited lithium resources and ethical concerns around lithium extraction. He studies sodium storage in hard carbon anodes, a key material for these batteries, using advanced X-ray techniques to observe how the structure and behavior of hard carbon change during charging and discharging.

By utilizing abundant and environmentally friendly sodium resources, these batteries offer a competitive solution for large-scale grid energy storage.

“My work provides the foundation for designing sodium-ion batteries with higher capacity, improved efficiency and greater durability,” Iglesias said. “These advancements pave the way for more accessible renewable energy storage, enabling the widespread adoption of clean energy technologies and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient energy future.”

Iglesias received his BS in chemical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In his third year, he received a fellowship to study in Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. His fourth year he received another fellowship to study at 91��ý.

In May, Iglesias will begin a postdoctoral research position at ETH Zurich, where he will continue exploring energy storage technologies.

“My goal is to lead projects that bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and societal needs, ensuring that advancements in green technologies benefit all sectors of society,” he said. “Being recognized by the Materials Research Society inspires me to keep exploring innovative energy storage solutions and contributing meaningfully to the global scientific community.”

Luis Kitsu Iglesias, a chemical and biological engineering PhD candidate, earned the 2024 Materials Research Society Gold Award for his innovative research on sustainable sodium-ion batteries.

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PhD student wins prestigious Teets fellowship

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:43:19 +0000

PhD student wins prestigious Teets fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/09/2024 - 08:43

Arkava Ganguly, a third-year PhD student in the Gupta research group, also known as the Laboratory of Interface, Flow and Electrokinetics (LIFE), has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Teets Family Endowed Doctoral Fellowship. This highly sought-after fellowship, providing $15,000 over a two-year period, is intended to support students engaged in research within the field of nanotechnology.

"The Teets fellowship gives me the independence to work on some exciting research ideas through which I hope to gain a deeper understanding of surface interactions at the colloidal scale to develop effective sequestration technologies,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly's research utilizes a combination of theoretical and computational tools to unravel the intricacies of micro- and nanoparticle motion. His specific focus lies in investigating how various factors, such as particle shape, surface heterogeneities and interactions impact not only particle movement but also their interactions with the surrounding environment and other particles.

Actively controlled micro- and nanoparticles hold vast potential in diverse fields like biomedicine and environmental remediation, said Assistant Professor Ankur Gupta, Ganguly's advisor. Ongoing developments in this domain underscore the importance of comprehending the physics behind particle propulsion and their interactions with the environment. This understanding can help engineer particles capable of navigating complex environments, with applications ranging from targeted drug delivery to fine-tuning surface properties for efficiently sequestering plastics from water sources, he added.

“I am proud of Arkava for his commitment to his research as he has made contributions to several different topics in our group," Gupta said. "This award underscores his excellent progress to date.”

After completing his PhD, Ganguly envisions a career leveraging his expertise in fluid mechanics, transport phenomena and surface science. He aspires to focus on projects centered around sustainability and environmental remediation, aligning his skills with real-world applications.

“I would like to thank the Teets family and the College of Engineering and Applied Science for their generous support," Ganguly said. "I would also like to thank Professor Gupta for his mentorship and guidance. Finally, I want to thank my lab members for their help with my work and unwavering encouragement."

Arkava Ganguly, a third-year PhD student in the Gupta research group, has been honored with a 2024 Teets Family Endowed Doctoral Fellowship. The fellowship provides $15,000 over two-years and supports students engaged in nanotechnology research.

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Gesse Roure — Outstanding Dissertation Award

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 22:38:56 +0000

Gesse Roure — Outstanding Dissertation Award Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/06/2023 - 15:38

Susan Glairon

PhD, Chemical Engineering, 2023

Dissertation Name: Microhydrodynamics of Droplets and Particles: Applications in Microfluidics and Agglomeration

Defended: July, 2023

Associated lab: Davis Group

Advisors: Distinguished Professor Robert H. Davis and Alexander Zinchenko, senior research associate

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Missouri

College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Dissertation Award
This award recognizes the best dissertation (excellence of research, topical importance and presentation in the written dissertation) among students completing PhD degree requirements during a calendar year.

As a student from Brazil, how did you choose 91��ý for your graduate studies?
Multiple factors influenced my decision to come to CU. Firstly, having already completed a master's in a related field, I was familiar with the previous works of Rob (Davis) and Alex (Zinchenko), and that was my primary motivation for choosing CU for my graduate studies. Besides that, the high-quality research conducted across various departments, particularly in Chemical and Biological Engineering, closely matched my academic interests. The appealing town atmosphere, as confirmed during my time in Boulder, solidified my decision, making it an easy choice.

What does receiving this award mean to you?
I am deeply honored to receive this outstanding dissertation award, which, for me, is the culmination of several years of hard work and diligence, as it not only represents the acknowledgement of my previous work, but also serves as a source of motivation for my future academic pursuits.

Tell me more about your research.
My dissertation explores the fascinating world of tiny-scale flows in science and engineering, especially focusing on two key challenges. First, we examined a sustainable method for capturing small particles in fluids using special droplets that slowly grow over time. The study reveals that the swelling of these droplets significantly improves particle capture efficiency, which is very useful for filtration, waste treatment and mineral recovery. In the second portion of the dissertation, the research focuses on the movement of tiny droplets in microchannels, which has applications ranging from medical diagnostic devices to targeted drug delivery. The findings include innovative approaches for shaping droplets and inducing effective mixing in microreactors, showcasing the potential for advancements in diverse microfluidic technologies. Overall, this work offers valuable insights into small-scale phenomena with broad applications across various scientific and engineering fields.

Why does this research topic interest you?
One thing that has always caught my attention is the ubiquitousness of fluids in nature. From the motion of hurricanes to the cytoplasm inside of a bacterium, there is always something flowing. The broad applications and interdisciplinary nature of fluid dynamics research are what specifically sparked my interest in this subject, as it offers a diverse range of opportunities to explore and understand various phenomena, making it an exciting and dynamic field.

Image above: Transport inside a droplet in a microfluidic trap subjected to an external tri-axial extensional flow.

Gesse Roure (PhD ChemEngr'23) received the CEAS Oustanding Dissertation Award; his research explores tiny-scale flows, with applications in waste treatment, mineral recovery, medical diagnostics and targeted drug delivery.

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Sanchez-Moran's enzyme immobilization research takes top prize at biologics summit

Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:21:24 +0000

Sanchez-Moran's enzyme immobilization research takes top prize at biologics summit Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/26/2023 - 10:21

Susan Glairon

Surpassing more than 300 participants, chemical engineering PhD student Hector Sanchez-Moran took home first prize at the PEGS Essential Protein and Antibody Engineering Summit poster presentation competition. The summit took place from May 15-19 in Boston.

Sanchez-Moran's said his poster explored significant advancements in the field of enzyme immobilization and its applications.

"This award signifies recognition for my years of research in the Kaar and Schwartz labs," said Sanchez-Moran, who is co-advised by Professor Daniel Schwartz and Associate Professor Joel Kaar. "The award, along with the enthusiastic responses from individuals I engaged with regarding my poster, demonstrates the value the biotechnology community places on our work, highlighting the significant implications of efficient enzyme immobilization."

The summit bills itself as "the leading biologics event," with comprehensive programming covering biologic drug development, including in-depth presentations on protein and antibody engineering, immunotherapy, oncology, expression, analytics and immunogenicity.

Enzyme immobilization has been extensively employed by protein engineers for a variety of applications, including bioremediation, biosensors and industrial biocatalysts. However, the precise understanding of how enzyme immobilization and its applications interact is not yet well understood, Sanchez-Moran said. His poster shed light on the complex nanoscale stabilizing interactions that lead to the remarkable stabilization of important enzymes used in detergent production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and the food industry. While these enzymes are barely stable above body temperature, Sanchez-Moran's immobilization technique demonstrated the ability to maintain their functionality up to boiling temperatures, thereby enhancing their utility in industrial settings.

Sanchez-Moran said it was his first experience attending a conference with significant industry participation.

"It was interesting to present my poster alongside representatives from leading biotech companies and engage in conversations about their own technologies," he said. "It's fascinating to observe the delicate balance these companies maintain, walking the fine line between disseminating their findings while protecting crucial information regarding their intellectual property."

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