Ingmar Riedel-Kruse

Ingmar Riedel-Kruse is a Professor of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona, with courtesy appointments in Biomedical Engineering (BME), Physics, and Applied Mathematics. He holds associate professor roles in the Genetics GIDP and Bio5 Institute. His research focuses on synthetic biology, microbiology, and multicellularity biophysics, with notable contributions to biofilm engineering, microbial consortia, and active matter dynamics. He leads labs in Life Sciences South rooms 552 (office) and 522/526 (labs). Riedel-Kruse pioneered cloud-based biology education platforms and biotic games, integrating live microorganisms into interactive learning tools. His work bridges biophysics, synthetic biology, and educational technology.

His educational contributions include scalable biology cloud labs, liquid-handling robots for STEM education, and museum exhibits enabling public interaction with living cells. Research interests span optogenetic biofilm patterning, synthetic adhesin design, and microbial energy systems. He has developed innovative tools like the LudusScope (smartphone-based microscopy) and the Biotic Game Toolkit for accessible biophysics experimentation.

Notable projects include Biofilm Lithography for high-resolution cell patterning and the design of 4-bit adhesion logic systems enabling programmable multicellular interfaces. His interdisciplinary approach integrates engineering principles with biological systems to address challenges in sustainable chemistry, energy production, and educational accessibility.