Monica Olvera de la Cruz has received a significant five-year grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation in support of her innovative materials science research.

Olvera de la Cruz, the Lawyer Taylor Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering, will receive $4.5 million to accelerate the discovery of new functions and application of synthetic structures, including hybrid biological and synthetic assemblies. She will focus on structures that mimic and enhance the action of protein membranes and cells to better understand biological functions, with applications in environmental remediation and health care. The project promises to push forward the field of biomimicry, which seeks to solve pressing problems by emulating nature.

Olvera de la Cruz is recognized internationally for her contributions to analyzing, modeling and designing new materials that mimic effective biological processes. She also is a professor of chemical and biological engineering, chemistry, and physics and astronomy and director of the Center for Computation and Theory of Soft Materials.

Original article published on Northwestern News.  Written by Megan Fellman.