Melissa Grunlan

Research Interests

Melissa A. Grunlan is associate professor and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Her laboratory focuses on developing new polymeric biomaterials for medical devices and regenerative therapies (i.e. tissue engineering). “Hybrid” systems based on combining inorganic and organic polymers are produced as coatings, hydrogels, elastomers and porous foams. Chemical, surface, mechanical and thermal properties are evaluated with a variety of techniques. Current projects are focused on developing self-cleaning membranes for implanted biosensors, clot-resistant coatings for blood-contacting devices and scaffolds for bone repair and for the regeneration of osteochondral interfaces.

Education

• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
• M.S., Polymers and Coatings, North Dakota State University
• B.S., Chemistry, North Dakota State University