Patterned Biomaterials: New Tools to Probe and Control Complex Biological Systems

Abstract:
Engineered materials and molecular sensing tools are transforming how we study and control complex biological systems. Yet many technologies operate at a single scale—either manipulating cellular environments without molecular precision or profiling molecular signals without spatial or mechanical context. My lab addresses this challenge through chemical and materials innovation, developing scalable platforms that integrate molecular design with quantitative analysis. We focus on two complementary directions: (1) physico-chemical design of soft interfaces with tunable nanoscale architecture and dynamic mechanics to probe and control material–biology interactions, and (2) biomolecular sensing platforms that combine polymer chemistry, optical or electrochemical detection, and data-driven analysis for accessible diagnostics. In this talk, I will highlight two representative efforts: nature-inspired nanopatterned coatings with dynamically tunable surface topography for long-term antibacterial activity, and integrated bioanalytical sensing technologies for early, point-of-care detection of sepsis.

Bio:
Dr. Jouha Min is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at University of Michigan. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University in 2010 and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, where she was advised by Paula Hammond and Richard Braatz. She conducted her postdoctoral research with Ralph Weissleder at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she worked at the interface of engineering, biology, and clinical translation. Dr. Min’s research group applies core principles of chemical and biological engineering—including transport phenomena, reaction kinetics, materials synthesis, and systems-level analysis—to develop new methodologies for probing and controlling material–biology interactions across three-dimensional space and time. Her work aims to establish a quantitative and mechanistic foundation for transformative advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. She is the recipient of several honors, including the NSF CAREER Award (2025), the NIH R35 MIRA Award (2025), and the V Foundation V Scholar Award (2023).