Marissa Wechsler

Dr. Marissa Wechsler, a first-generation Hispanic biomedical engineer, returned to her alma mater The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in 2021 as an Assistant Professor in the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. As UTSA's first biomedical engineering undergraduate student (class of 2015), she now leads a 12-member research team in her biomaterials and cell engineering lab while teaching advanced courses like BME 4443: Stem Cell Engineering.

• Academic Journey: UTSA BME program pioneer (2015) → NSF Graduate Research Fellowship → Ph.D. from UT Austin
• Leadership Roles: Founding faculty member of UTSA Sigma Xi chapter (2023), SWE faculty advisor, ESTEEMED mentor

Research Focus: Specializes in biomaterials engineering with emphasis on:

• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue regeneration
• Stem cell engineering through controlled microenvironments
• Biosensing platforms using nanoparticle-hydrogel hybrids
• Regenerative medicine applications for vascular diseases

Recent publications demonstrate expertise in RNA-based vaccine delivery systems, nanoparticle engineering, and mitochondrial dysfunction analysis in peripheral artery disease. Her work combines material science innovation with clinical translation potential.

Award Highlights:

• 2023: Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research
• 2021: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (during studies)

Mentorship Impact: As a former participant in federal research programs (RISE, MARC), she now mentors through:

• Leading 12-member research team (undergraduate to postdoctoral)
• Sigma Xi leadership (President-elect)
• Faculty advisor for Society of Women Engineers
• ESTEEMED program mentor