Nima Rahbar

Nima Rahbar is the White Family Distinguished Professor and Department Head of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He holds an affiliation with the Mechanical Engineering Department. His academic career began with a BS from Sharif University of Technology (1998) and a PhD from Princeton University (2008). Rahbar leads the Bioinspired Materials Design Lab (BMDL), focusing on bioinspired materials, sustainable construction, and self-healing concrete. His work includes developing the Carbon-Negative Enzymatic Construction Material (ECM), which sequesters CO₂ while offering superior structural performance.

Research interests span bioinspired design, mechanics of biological materials, nanomechanics, and toughening mechanisms. He collaborates actively on NSF-funded projects and has pioneered enzymatic repair for cementitious surfaces. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2012), TMS Young Leader Award (2012), and Sigma Xi Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Award (2018). Media coverage highlights his ECM innovation in Science Daily and BBC Earth.

Rahbar advises students on research projects and contributes to sustainable development goals SDG 9 and 11. His lab explores applications in resilient infrastructure and climate-friendly materials. Grants include recent NSF funding to refine ECM and develop educational programs. He balances academic leadership with advancing novel materials for global sustainability challenges.