Marco Lo Presti

Marco Lo Presti is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University. His work focuses on developing sustainable and functional biomaterials through bio-inspired approaches, with particular emphasis on silk fibroin composites, diatom biosilica, and bioadhesives. He holds a PhD from the University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy) and has pioneered innovations in materials science and green chemistry.

Education: Doctor of Philosophy (2019), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.

Research interests include bio-inspired material design, sustainable materials processing, and functionalization of natural polymers. His projects span from eco-friendly adhesives to bioelectronic interfaces, leveraging interdisciplinary methods like nanotechnology and chemical engineering. Recent work highlights include silk-based supercapacitors, dynamic adhesive fibers for robotics, and novel applications of diatom-derived biosilica.

Publications reflect a strong focus on biomaterials innovation, with contributions to journals like Advanced Functional Materials and Biomaterials Science. His research emphasizes scalability and environmental impact, addressing challenges in renewable energy storage, wearable sensors, and sustainable manufacturing.

Key projects involve biohybrid systems combining bacterial photosynthetic components with synthetic materials, and development of additive manufacturing techniques for leather-like silk materials. This work bridges fundamental science with applied engineering solutions for global sustainability goals.