Brian Belardi

Brian Belardi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, holding the Lyondell Chemical Company Endowed Faculty Fellowship in Engineering.

His educational background includes:

• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley (2014-2020)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley (2014)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University (2008)

Dr. Belardi's research centers on probing and re-programming biological barriers across length scales, combining molecular engineering, synthetic biology, and biophysics. His lab investigates:

• Extracellular Matrix Modifications: Studying post-translational modifications for diagnostics and biomaterials
• Epithelial Contacts & Engineering: Manipulating tight junctions to improve drug delivery
• Synthetic Cell Construction: Building cell-like assemblies for regenerative medicine
• Protein Switches: Developing light-activated controls for cellular mechanics

Recent publications (2020-2023) reveal a strong trend toward synthetic biology approaches for engineering biological barriers, with emphasis on epithelial permeability, extracellular matrix dynamics, and synthetic cell systems. These works bridge fundamental biophysics with translational applications in drug delivery and tissue repair.

His major recognitions include:

• David and Lucile Packard Foundation Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering (2023)
• Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Emerging Voices in Drug Delivery Award (2023)
• National Institutes of Health Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (2021)
• Berkeley Postdoctoral Association Award (2019)
• National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship (2015)
• Young Investigator Award, University of Alberta Glycomics Centre (2014)

Dr. Belardi mentors graduate students in an inclusive lab environment focused on interdisciplinary training. His research is supported by NIH grants, Packard Foundation funding, and industry partnerships. Current projects develop reagents to disrupt and repair biological barriers in cancer and inflammatory diseases.

The Belardi Lab combines molecular engineering, chemical biology, and biophysics expertise to construct synthetic cells, detect extracellular matrix modifications, and engineer protein switches for therapeutic applications in drug delivery and regenerative medicine.