Alexandra Rutz

Alexandra Rutz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis. She joined the university in March 2021. Her affiliations include the Institute of Materials Science & Engineering and the Center for Regenerative Medicine. She can be reached at rutzalexandral@wustl.edu, with her lab located in Whitaker Hall, Room 235 and office in Room 390D.

Education:

• PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University (2016)
• MS in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University (2014)
• BS in [unspecified field], University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2011)

Research Interests: Professor Rutz’s work emphasizes nature-inspired design to advance bioelectronics via materials engineering and fabriation-based approaches. Her lab develops bioelectronic scaffolds for robust biointerfaces and long-lived medical devices, merging materials science with biomedical applications. She also explores principles of odor-guided navigation in brain-machine interfaces through collaborative projects.

Scientific Awards:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Whitaker International Postdoctoral Fellowship

Advising & Grants: While no formal advisees are listed, her postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (Division of Electrical Engineering) was supported by prestigious fellowships. She contributed to a National Science Foundation grant ($4.3 million) led by Barani Raman in 2023, investigating brain-machine interfaces for insects. Her work highlights transdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and life sciences.

Labs & Teams: Her lab in Whitaker Hall focuses on electronic tissue engineering. She collaborates with institutions like the Center for Regenerative Medicine and leverages external funding for innovative projects.