معرفی
Laia Mogas-Soldevila serves as Assistant Professor of Graduate Architecture and Director of DumoLab Research at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design, pioneering radically sustainable material practices that bridge science, engineering, and the arts for architectural and product design innovation.
Her academic credentials include:
- Interdisciplinary doctorate in biomaterials science, biomedical engineering, and advanced design from Tufts University School of Engineering
- Two master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture
- Licensed architect with Fine Arts minor from Polytechnic University of Catalonia and École Nationale Supérieure de Beaux-Arts
Dr. Mogas-Soldevila's research reimagines matter as a fundamental design driver through biomaterials and bio-based fabrication, emphasizing environmental justice and circular economy principles. Her work partners with scientists to develop unprecedented material capabilities, spanning from molecular-scale biopolymer engineering to full-scale architectural applications that address climate challenges.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2020-2025) reveals dominant themes in carbon-sequestering living materials, agricultural waste valorization, and adaptive biological skins. These works consistently bridge architecture, material science, and environmental engineering, with increasing focus on participatory design and urban farming applications as seen in her 2024 Portable Bioremediation Technologies project.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- Johnson&Johnson Foundation Woman in STEM2D Scholar Award
Research funding encompasses Penn's Research Foundation Grant, Environmental Innovation Grant, Sachs Art Innovation Grant, and Global Engagement Fund, supporting her interdisciplinary exploration of sustainable material systems. Her pedagogy cultivates novel theory and applied methods for biomaterial implementation across design disciplines.
As DumoLab Research Director, she leads cross-disciplinary collaborations developing material-driven computational workflows for digital fabrication, with recent projects exhibited at MoMA, Milan/London Design Weeks, and ACADIA conferences, translating laboratory innovations into tangible environmental solutions.
