Nick Vecchiarello

Nick Vecchiarello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, starting his appointment in January 2023. His research focuses on developing chemically modified surfaces for applications in biomanufacturing, precision medicine, and analytical chemistry. He leads the Vecchiarello Lab, which designs peptide-functionalized materials and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems. The lab emphasizes collaboration with industry to address real-world challenges in bioseparations and drug purification.

Education:

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Research Interests: His work explores interfacial adsorption phenomena and stimuli-responsive materials. Techniques include biophysical characterization to understand surface interactions and develop functionalized surfaces from peptide libraries. Recent achievements include securing an NSF CAREER Award to advance drug purification processes.

Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2023) for improving protein-based drug manufacturing.

Lab Focus: The lab bridges academia and industry to create innovative materials for biomanufacturing and drug delivery. Future work aims to optimize surface engineering for safer, cost-effective therapies.