Bio

Research Interests

• Stimuli-responsive peptide ligands for purification of stem cells and labile therapeutic proteins
• Hydrogels for scheduled delivery of synergistic combinations of anticancer therapeutics
• Transdermal delivery of oligonucleotides and peptide antigens for sprayable vaccines
• Peptide mimetics for advancing polymer science

Education

North Carolina State University, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2013
Università di Bologna, M.Sc. Chemical Engineering, 2008
Università di Bologna, B.Sc. Chemical Engineering, 2006

Honors and Awards

• ACS BIOT Young Investigator Award (2025)
• Goodnight Early Career Innovator (2021)
• ALCOA Foundation Research Achievement Award (2021)
• NCSU Faculty Scholar (2021)
• AIM-Bio Grant (2019)
• NCSU Chancellor’s Innovation Fund (2019)
• NSF CAREER Award (2017)
• Grand Challenges in Biomanufacturing Fellowship (2009 – 2012)
• Scholarship for research program abroad awarded by the School of Engineering (University of Bologna) (2008)
• Fellow of School of Advanced Studies Collegio Superiore at the University of Bologna (2003-2018)