M. Scott Shell

M. Scott Shell is a Professor and John Myers Founder's Chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), within the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering. He serves as Department Vice Chair and leads the Shell Lab, focusing on multiscale modeling, molecular simulation, and biomaterials design.

Shell holds a BS from Carnegie Mellon University (2000) and a PhD from Princeton University (2005), followed by a postdoc in biophysics at UCSF (2005–2007). His research spans bioengineering, soft materials, peptide self-assembly, and water dynamics, with notable contributions to coarse-grained models and nanomedicine.

Key research areas include:

• Multiscale modeling using relative entropy methods
• In silico design of materials for water purification
• Hydrophobic interactions at interfaces
• Peptide aggregation mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases

His over 50 articles (2025–2023) address topics like polypeptoid solubility, tau protein fibrillation, and polymer phase behavior. Notable awards include AIChE and AAAS Fellowships (2025/2024), the Academic Senate Outstanding Mentor Award (2022), and the NSF CAREER Award (2009).

Shell's lab includes researchers like Michael Meng, David Zhao, and Vikram Shanbhag, working on projects funded by NSF, DOE, and industry collaborations. Current focus areas include inverse design of pore chemistries, protein-surface interactions, and computational tools for material discovery.