Candan Tamerler

Dr. Candan Tamerler is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas and Track Director for the Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering graduate program. She also holds the Wesley G. Cramer Professorship and serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at KU.

• Current Affiliations
• Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas (since 2013)
• Track Director, Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, KU Graduate Program
• Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Kansas
• Past Affiliations
• Research Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Washington
• Assistant Director, Genetically-Engineered Materials Science & Engineering Center, University of Washington
• Full Professor, Molecular Biology & Genetics Department, Istanbul Technical University (2002-2010)
• Visiting Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Washington

Dr. Tamerler's research focuses on molecular biomimetics and bio-nanotechnology, developing bio-enabled materials for dental and biomedical applications. Her work bridges molecular biology with materials science to engineer peptide-based interfaces for tissue repair, antimicrobial surfaces, and enzyme immobilization systems.

Recent publications highlight her innovations in dental biomaterials, collagen mineralization, and computational design of peptides. Key themes include autonomous strengthening adhesives, bio-nanoreactors, and machine learning approaches to antimicrobial peptide engineering.

Scientific Awards

• Principal Member, Turkish Academy of Sciences
• Visiting Scientist, University of Westminster
• Visiting Professor, University of Nagoya

Dr. Tamerler has organized international symposia for the American Chemical Society and TMS, and previously founded a multidisciplinary research center at Istanbul Technical University, securing funding for its 40,000 sq. ft. facility.