Alshakim Nelson

Alshakim Nelson is a Professor and Department Chair at the University of Washington's Department of Chemistry, holding the Gertrude Tamaki Endowed Professorship and serving as Associate Chair for Ph.D. Studies. He leads the Nelson Lab, focusing on stimuli-responsive materials and bio-hybrid systems for additive manufacturing applications in medicine, soft robotics, sensors, and sustainability. His interdisciplinary work integrates polymer synthesis, rheology, and 3D printing technologies.

• Education: PhD in Organic Chemistry (2005, UCLA), Postdoc at Caltech (2005-2015) under Robert Grubbs, and prior research at IBM Almaden (2005-2015).
• Research Interests: Synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers, nanomaterials for 3D printing, and applications in life sciences. Utilizes supramolecular chemistry and viscoelastic property control.

Awards & Honors: Recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, Kavli Fellowship, and IBM Master Inventor recognition, among others.

Labs/Teams: The Nelson Lab employs a cross-disciplinary approach, combining polymer chemistry, microbial culture, and advanced manufacturing techniques. Current projects emphasize materials for medical and sustainable technologies.