Ronit Freeman

Ronit Freeman, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is also affiliated with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• Research Focus: Cellular response to extracellular matrix (ECM) cues across multiple length/time scales
• Methodologies: Synthetic biology, supramolecular chemistry, DNA/RNA aptamer technology

Dr. Freeman's work develops reconfigurable ECM platforms to study and engineer cellular fate decisions through:

• Controllable biochemical and biomechanical signaling
• Advanced fibrous architecture design
• Dynamic topography and mechanics modulation
• Applications in cancer therapy, wound healing, and fibrosis reversal

Key collaborations include:

• Shawn Hingtgen's lab - Therapeutic cell engineering
• RNA Discovery Center (led by Chad Pecot)

Scientific Achievements:

• Recipient of Eshelman Institute for Innovation Award (2020)
• Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation Collaborative Innovation Award (2019)
• Scialog Fellow (2019)
• Multiple early-career fellowships (EMBO, Clore, Converging Technologies)

Her interdisciplinary team combines expertise from chemistry, cell biology, synthetic biology, medicine, engineering, and physics to address cutting-edge bio-nanotechnology challenges.