Samuel I. Stupp

Samuel I. Stupp is a Board of Trustees Professor at Northwestern University with appointments in the Departments of Materials Science, Chemistry, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering. He serves as Director of the Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine and leads a research group organized into three sub-teams: Self-Assembly, Energy Materials, and Biomaterials.

• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles (1972)
• Ph.D., Northwestern University (1977)

His research integrates chemistry, materials science, and medicine to develop self-assembling organic materials for energy and biomedical applications. Key areas include:

• Energy Materials: Solar photovoltaics, catalytic solar fuels, supramolecular ferroelectrics, and artificial muscle systems.
• Biomaterials: Regenerative therapies for spinal cord, brain, bone, and cardiac tissue, alongside targeted cancer and cardiovascular drug delivery using nanostructures.
• Self-Assembly: Programming molecular systems to form functional nanostructures, including peptide amphiphiles and DNA-based hybrids.

His publications reveal expertise in supramolecular chemistry, nanomedicine, and energy conversion, with recurring themes in interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Von Hippel Award (2022)
• Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2020)
• Ronald Breslow Award for Biomimetic Chemistry (2012)
• Materials Research Society Medal (2000)
• Humboldt Award for Senior U.S. Scientists (1997)

The Stupp Laboratory trains researchers across three subgroups and maintains partnerships with institutions in Singapore, Japan, and Europe. Their work has led to groundbreaking advances in paralysis reversal and Alzheimer’s treatment.