Niels Holten-Andersen

Niels Holten-Andersen is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Bioengineering and Materials Science & Engineering at Lehigh University, part of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. His research focuses on developing bio-inspired materials by integrating design principles from nature into synthetic polymers, addressing global challenges in energy, environment, and health.

Education: B.Sc. Biology (University of Copenhagen, 1998), B.Sc.Hon. Molecular Biology (University of Canterbury, 2000), M.Sc. Cell Biology (University of Copenhagen, 2001), and Ph.D. in Biomolecular Science & Engineering (University of California-Santa Barbara, 2008).

Research interests include biomaterials, biomolecular materials, biophysics, and polymers. His team explores metal-coordinate gels, responsive coatings, and nanocomposite hydrogels, emphasizing applications in energy dissipation, environmental sustainability, and biomedical engineering.

Highlights of his work include in situ mineralization of hydrogels, light-responsive materials, and mussel-inspired adhesives. His studies span rheology, molecular dynamics, and material functionality, with a focus on understanding viscoelastic properties and their practical implications.

He leads the Holten-Andersen Group and the Holten-Anderson Lab, collaborating with institutions like the Da Vinci Science Center and securing seed grants for interdisciplinary projects. His research aims to bridge fundamental material science with real-world applications through bio-inspired innovation.