Faculty Staff and Students

Assistant Professor Anushree Chatterjee's research focuses on adopting integrated computational, systems and synthetic biology approaches to investigate fundamental, biotechnological and medically relevant issues including understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for antibiotic and antiviral resistance, rational design of “next-generation smart antimicrobials,” and construction of synthetic genetic devices for a variety of biotechnological and bioenergy applications

The result of a unique partnership between CU alum Pete Balsells, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the government of Catalonia, Spain, the Balsells Graduate Fellowship Program brings outstanding students from Catalonia to Boulder to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees.  This program funds the students’ education and has enriched both our department and the college community. 

How can we interface proteins with polymers to better deliver drugs to diseased tissues?  Can protein properties be rationally altered to produce valuable compounds such as biofuels?  How can we better detect enzymes involved in, and thereby target and combat, diseases? 

Norviel Associate Professor Jennifer Cha's research focuses on the design, synthesis, and integration of biomolecular materials for nanoscience. Specific research areas within her group include use of DNA nanomaterials for nanoelectronics, synthesis and engineering of smart biomolecular systems for sensing and medicine, and biochemical synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials for energy applications.

Assistant Professor Andrew Goodwin's research focuses on designing “smart” colloids and materials – such as polymeric architectures, organic/inorganic hybrids, and multiphase composites – that can sense their surroundings and change their physical properties accordingly. He is also interested in how interfaces organize themselves when sensing chemical stimuli, and also how they respond to external forces.

Assistant Professor Prashant Nagpal's research focuses on development of novel nanostructured building blocks for nano-optics and electronics, self-assembled nanoparticles assemblies, and nanoparticle inks for understanding fundamental interactions between electromagnetic waves, and for applications in renewable energy and biological sensing.

The department has been fortunate to find a new Undergraduate Advisor with not only years of experience, but unbridled enthusiasm for helping students. Since Dr. Deb Renshaw started with the department in April of this year she has greatly alleviated the burden on faculty by taking over student advising and helping facilitate student events.