Nic Leipzig

Dr. Nic Leipzig is Professor and Robert Iredell Chair at The University of Akron's College of Engineering and Polymer Science, with joint appointments in Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Rice University and B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. His research lab focuses on regenerative therapies for CNS injuries, biomaterial scaffolds, and stem cell engineering, with active projects in spinal cord injury repair and advanced wound healing technologies.

Research integrates biomaterial design with stem cell technologies to develop therapies for neural regeneration and chronic wounds. Recent work explores oxygenating hydrogels, 3D tumor models, and syringomyelia mechanisms. Publications demonstrate strong emphasis on translational applications with polymeric systems.

Honors include the 2015 Rising Star Award, CMBE-BMES Young Investigator Award, and 2018 UA College of Engineering Outstanding Researcher Award. Teaches graduate courses in Transport Phenomena, Process Economics, Stem Cell Engineering, and Protein Engineering.

Research collaborations include interdisciplinary teams working on spinal cord injury models, diabetic wound therapies, and liver tissue engineering platforms. Laboratory capabilities include advanced biomaterial fabrication and in vivo testing facilities.