Horacio Dante Espinosa

Horacio Dante Espinosa is the James N. and Nancy J. Farley Professor in Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering, holding the rank of Professor in Mechanical Engineering. He also directs the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program and the Micro and Nano Mechanics Lab. His research spans bioinspired materials, single-cell analysis, and multiscale experimentation, with a focus on nanoelectronics and energy harvesting. Espinosa earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from Brown University and has held academic roles at Purdue University and Harvard University. He leads interdisciplinary teams exploring metamaterials, cell engineering, and advanced fabrication techniques. His honors include the Prager Medal (2019) and multiple fellowships. Espinosa's lab combines experimental and computational methods, with capabilities in nanomechanical testing and biological assay development.

• Education: Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics (Brown University, 1992), M.Sc. in Structural Engineering (Polytechnic of Milan, 1987), Civil Engineering (Northeastern National University, Argentina, 1981)
• Key Roles: Director of iCET (2015–2018), Faculty Director of NUFAB (2013–2015), Visiting Professorships at Stanford and Harvard
• Labs: Micro and Nano Mechanics Lab focuses on biomaterials, metamaterials, and single-cell manipulation with advanced microscopy and electroporation systems
• Grants/Awards: NSF-CAREER Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, and leadership roles in professional societies

His research bridges mechanics, materials science, and biology, with applications in healthcare technologies and advanced materials. Current projects include phononic crystal studies, Kirigami engineering, and high-throughput electroporation platforms for cell analysis.