Markita Landry

Markita Landry is an Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the College of Engineering. Her research spans interdisciplinary applications of nanotechnology in neuroscience and plant engineering.

• 2022: Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Young Investigator, Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise
• 2021: National Academies Committee member, Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
• 2020: NSF CAREER Award, CZI Deep Tissue Imaging Award
• 2019: Bakar Fellow, Sloan Foundation Fellow

Research Interests: The Landry Lab focuses on synthetic bio-mimetic nanocomposites for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Bio-Delivery. In neuroscience, they engineer optical probes for neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin to study disorders such as addiction, Huntington's, and Parkinson's. In plant engineering, they develop nanoparticle platforms for DNA/RNA delivery to crops (e.g., wheat, cotton) without transgene integration, aiming to enhance yield, stress tolerance, and regulatory compliance for GMO alternatives.

Publication Trends: Her recent work highlights nanomaterials in in vivo neurotransmitter monitoring and plant genetic engineering. Key themes include CRISPR-compatible delivery systems, non-invasive RNA/DNA vectors, and infrared fluorescence for disease modeling.

Scientific Awards:

• 2022 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science
• 2020 NSF CAREER Award
• 2019 Bakar Fellow
• 2018 DARPA Young Faculty Award
• 2017 Kavli Fellow (National Academies of Engineering)

Labs & Teams: The Landry Lab at UC Berkeley pioneers synthetic nanocomposites for biomedical and agricultural applications. Their collaborative work bridges the interface of materials science, neuroscience, and plant biotechnology, supported by grants from organizations like the Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub and the Dreyfus Foundation.