About
Dr. Jacinta C. Conrad is the Frank M. Tiller Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, within the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She is an Executive Editor at ACS Applied Nano Materials and holds prestigious fellowships from the American Physical Society and the Society of Rheology.
Education:
- Ph.D. & M.A. in Physics, Harvard University (2005, 2002)
- S.B. in Mathematics, University of Chicago (1999)
- Postdoctoral Research in Materials Science at University of Illinois (2005–2009)
Research Focus: Her group investigates transport dynamics in soft materials and complex matrices, including colloids, nanoparticles, bacteria, and proteins. Key areas include:
- Microscale particle behavior in confined environments
- Biofilm formation and bacterial motility
- Nanoparticle dispersion in porous media
- Development of antifouling materials and medical diagnostics
Publications & Impact: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles span interdisciplinary topics like nanoparticle dynamics, polymer brush functionality, and viral diagnostic tools. Recent work emphasizes ultrasensitive biosensors and environmental remediation strategies.
Labs & Collaborations: The Conrad Lab integrates microscopy, microfluidics, and computational modeling. Key collaborations include projects with Megan Robertson (UH ChBE) on bacterial adhesion, and Patrick Cirino (UH ChBE) on synthetic biology. Research has practical applications in bioremediation, medical diagnostics, and advanced materials.
