Biography

Phillip B. Messersmith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1993

Northwestern University
Department: Biomedical Engineering Department
Address: 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208
Email: philm@northwestern.edu
Homepage: http://biomaterials.bme.northwestern.edu/
Phone: 847-467-5273
Fax: 847-491-4928

Research Statement:

Professor Messersmith's research interests lie in the synthesis and characterization of novel materials using biomimetic/bioinspired approaches. Our long term goals are to design novel functional materials for use in the delivery of healthcare, and to develop unique nanostructured composite materials for aerospace applications. In the medical area, current research aims to develop minimally invasive (injectable) biomaterials suitable for use as surgical tissue adhesives and space-filling materials for hard and soft tissue repair, drug delivery and new tissue engineering strategies. In the aerospace area, current research aims to exploit biological strategies to develop new nanostructured composite structural materials consisting of nanostructured reinforcing elements dispersed within polymeric matrices.

Education:
1985 B.S., School of Life Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1987 M.S., Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
1993 Ph.D., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Positions:
1998- Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University.
1997-98 Assistant Professor, Division of Biological Materials, Dental School, Northwestern University.
1994-97 Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago.
1993-94 Postdoctoral Scientist, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University
Selected Honors:
  • 1991 Graduate Student Award Finalist, Materials Research Society
  • 1997 NIH First Award
  • 1998 Young Investigator Award, 6th International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissue
  • 2000 Eugene Skinner Memorial Lecture, Northwestern University
  • 2001 Study Section Boundary Team, Bioengineering Science and Technology IRG, NIH