Dacheng Ren

Dacheng Ren is the Stevenson Endowed Professor at the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, within the College of Engineering & Computer Science. He leads research in biofilm control, biomaterials, and synthetic biology, with a focus on developing antifouling materials and medical devices. Ren is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and has received multiple awards, including the NSF CAREER Award and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence.

Education:

• B.E. in Applied Chemistry (major) and Electrical Engineering (minor), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1996
• M.E. in Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, 1999
• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Connecticut, 2003
• Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University, 2003–2005

Research Interests: Ren’s lab investigates biofilm mechanisms, bacterial dormancy, and the development of novel antifouling materials. Key areas include bacterial-material interactions, synthetic biology for microbial control, and smart medical devices. His work addresses biofilm-related challenges in healthcare and industry, such as chronic infections and industrial fouling.

Selected Achievements:

• Developed shape-memory topographies and electrochemical methods to disrupt biofilms
• Advanced wireless sensor systems for antibiotic susceptibility testing
• Received over $5 million in NSF, Coulter Foundation, and industry grants

Awards and Recognition:

• Fellow, AIMBE (2022)
• NSF CAREER Award (2011–2016)
• Faculty Excellence Award, SU School of Engineering (2014)

Labs/Centers: Ren directs research at the Syracuse BioInspired Institute, focusing on translating fundamental biofilm research into applied technologies for healthcare and sustainability.