Gilbert Pupa

Dr. Gilbert Pupa is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the Department of Physics and the College of Letters & Science. He also serves as a Visiting Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 2019.

His research focuses on biomineralization processes in natural systems, including coral skeletons, sea urchin spines, mollusk shell nacre, and tooth enamel. Using X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy (X-PEEM) and PIC mapping techniques, his work explores nanoscale mineral phase transformations and crystal orientation patterns, with applications in marine biology, dentistry, and materials science.

His recent publications reveal critical insights about amorphous calcium carbonate precursors in coral formation, nanostructural toughening mechanisms in marine biominerals, and environmental influences on nacre ultrastructure. These studies span materials physics, biogeochemistry, and biomedical engineering.

Scientific awards include:

• 2024 UW-Madison Mentoring Undergraduates Award
• 2022 Texty Award for 'Physics in the Arts'
• 2018 Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
• 2012 NSF ACI Fellowship
• 2002 H.I. Romnes Award

He leads the Cnidarians undergraduate research team and maintains collaborations with institutions across MIT, Harvard, Weizmann Institute, and EPFL. His work is supported by DOE and NSF grants.