Steven Wrenn

Professor Steven Wrenn is the Department Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. His research spans Biological Colloids, Cardiovascular Disease, Controlled Drug Delivery, Membrane Phase Behavior, and Ultrasound Contrast Agents.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Delaware, 2000
• M.Ch.E., University of Delaware, 1997
• B.S., Virginia Tech, 1991

His work focuses on the intersection of colloid science and biomedical applications, particularly mechanisms of ultrasound contrast agents, drug delivery via liposomal constructs, and membrane phase behavior in cardiovascular contexts. He investigates how triglycerides and phospholipid dynamics influence interfacial stability and acoustic responses.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a trajectory from microbubble encapsulation techniques (2020-2024) to membrane elasticity studies (2021-2024), with keywords including Biophysics, Nanomedicine, and Acoustic Engineering. Sub-fields emphasize microfluidics, lipid bilayer mechanics, and field-dependent contrast agent design.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2004): For systematic study of cholesterol nano-domains in lipid membranes

While no advisees are listed in this text, Professor Wrenn's research program has secured grants like the NSF CAREER award and contributed to curriculum development in engineering education. His group explores ultrasound-triggered drug release and membrane disruption for therapeutic applications.

Key laboratory efforts center on acoustic micro-streaming, inertial cavitation thresholds, and membrane susceptibility to shear forces, with translational impacts on cardiac imaging and foodborne pathogen inactivation.