Hong Shen wins NSF CAREER Award to support
The NSF CAREER Award supports “the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization.” The award (abstract #0748285) will support Shen’s research project, titled “Microenvironment pH controllers: regulating the endocytosis pathway.” Her research group plans to develop polymer-coated biominerals to monitor and control activities within the endocytosis pathway, which serves as a cell’s communication hub and gateway to the outside world. Biominerals, such as bone, are sensitive to their environment. Shen’s research group plans to “tune” biominerals to respond to their surroundings in helpful ways. Polymer coatings can be used to target certain cells or tissues in the body. “Our approach bridges engineering and biology,” Shen said. “We are taking engineering’s focus on design and quantitative analysis and applying it to biological processes, where answers sometimes aren’t so clear,” she said. In addition to supporting her research, Shen will use the award to foster an interdisciplinary environment in the UW’s Department of Chemical Engineering. “My educational goals are to enhance students’ flexibility and communication skills in an interdisciplinary environment, and to attract and retain students in our Chemical Engineering program,” Shen said. Shen plans to develop two classes. “Biology for Engineers,” an existing class, would be updated and made a required course. “Biomolecular Engineering and Design,” a new class, could be used as an elective to meet ABET accreditation requirements. She also plans to integrate topics from biology into traditional chemical engineering classes. “We cannot imagine a day when chemical engineers lack the skills to design processes and products vital for our survival,” Shen said. “However, we also cannot afford to leave our students unprepared and unable to effectively communicate with others outside their field.” Shen received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in China in 1995 and 1998, respectively. She received her doctorate in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Cornell University in 2004. She joined the UW in 2006 as assistant professor. |
Hong Shen, UW assistant professor of chemical engineering, won a five-year, $400,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support her research on using nanomaterials to fight cancers, infections and autoimmune diseases.
