Matthew Ryen Lockett

Matthew Ryen Lockett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with strong affiliations to the UNC School of Medicine. His research focuses on developing innovative 3D cell culture platforms and measurement tools that better mimic in vivo tissue environments, with particular emphasis on oxygen's role in tissue homeostasis and cancer progression.

Dr. Lockett received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005, followed by a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 working with Lloyd M. Smith. He completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard University with George M. Whitesides from 2010-2013.

His research program addresses two major areas: tissue engineering and surface chemistry. In tissue engineering, his lab develops paper-based 3D culture systems that maintain physiologically relevant microenvironments for studying cancer biology, drug metabolism, and cellular responses to oxygen gradients. For surface chemistry, his group creates novel methods for modifying carbon and silicon electrodes to improve stability and functionality for applications in electrocatalysis and sensing. His interdisciplinary approach integrates concepts from chemistry, biomedical engineering, cellular and molecular biology, materials science, and toxicology to solve complex biological problems.

Dr. Lockett's recent publications reveal a strong trend toward increasingly sophisticated 3D tissue models with precise oxygen control, alongside continued innovation in surface modification techniques for electrochemical applications. His work bridges fundamental chemical principles with translational biomedical applications, particularly in cancer research and drug development.

Dr. Lockett has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to analytical chemistry and biomedical research:

• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2024)
• The Analytical Scientist Power List, Mentors and Educators category (2023)
• Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility Rising Star Award (2019)
• Top 40 under 40 Power List, The Analytical Scientist (2018)
• BioAnalysis Zone New Investigator Award (2017)
• Eli Lilly Young Investigator Award in Analytical Chemistry (2016)

Dr. Lockett actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in his lab, with several recent PhD graduates and undergraduate researchers. His lab operates with strong core values emphasizing creativity, inclusivity, and teamwork, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of oppression. The lab has secured significant funding to support its research on tissue engineering and surface chemistry, enabling the development of novel platforms for studying cellular behavior in controlled microenvironments.

The Lockett Lab maintains two primary research subgroups: a surfaces subgroup focusing on carbon-based electrodes for (photo)electrosynthesis and measuring wetting dynamics, and a cells subgroup developing microfluidic 3D liver models to quantify cellular metabolism. The lab is known for its collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary approach, working with researchers across chemistry, biomedical engineering, and toxicology departments.