Teresa Rapp

Dr. Teresa Rapp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon. She leads the Rapp Lab, which focuses on developing light-responsive ruthenium-based biomaterials for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and photocaging of biomolecules. Her research integrates inorganic chemistry with biomedical engineering, emphasizing the use of visible and near-IR light to control material properties and biological processes.

Dr. Rapp holds a B.S. from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington as a Washington Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. Her work has led to innovations in ruthenium-polypyridyl complexes for hydrogel design, visible-light responsive materials, and self-illuminating drug delivery systems.

Her lab’s current projects include tricolor wavelength-selective hydrogels, bioluminescence-driven cargo release, and photocaging of previously inaccessible molecules. These efforts aim to address challenges in light penetration depth and precision in biomedical applications.

The Rapp Lab actively engages undergraduate and graduate students in research through programs like the RuPROBE initiative, fostering a collaborative environment for trainees at all levels.