Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina

Professor Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina is a leading academic at UNSW Sydney's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. She holds a Professorial appointment and is an ARC Future Fellow, leading a multidisciplinary research group focused on biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Her work bridges biology and engineering to develop silk-based materials for cardiovascular applications and tissue engineering.

Education:

• PhD in Molecular Bioscience (University of Sydney, 2011)
• Postdoctoral training at Tufts University (2011-2013)
• Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology & Genetics) with University Medal (University of Sydney, 2007)

Research Interests:

Her research focuses on biomimetic materials to enhance vascularization, treat cardiovascular disease, and engineer tissues. Key areas include silk fibroin functionalization, vascular graft development, and biofabrication techniques. Recent projects explore di-tyrosine crosslinking for advanced silk materials and 3D-printed vascular constructs.

Funding & Grants:

• ARC Future Fellowship (2022-2025)
• NSW Health grants (e.g., vascular device development, wound healing)
• International collaborations (e.g., Germany’s DAAD program)

Awards & Recognition:

Recipient of the NSW Ministerial Award for Cardiovascular Research (2021), NSW Premier’s Early Career Researcher of the Year (2020), and multiple leadership awards. Recognized for her contributions to biomaterials science and cardiovascular innovation.

Professional Activities:

• President of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
• Board member of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA)
• Editorial roles in multiple journals

Lab & Teams:

Her lab specializes in biofabrication, vascular tissue engineering, and material characterization. Collaborators include Prof. David Kaplan (Tufts University) and Prof. Khoon Lim (University of Sydney).