Todd Sulchek

Todd Sulchek is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering. He holds the title of Regents’ Innovator and is affiliated with the Sulchek BioMEMS and Biometrics Lab. His research focuses on integrating advanced microscopy, microfluidics, and biomechanical principles to address challenges in drug delivery, pathogen invasion mechanisms, and cellular mechanobiology.

Education: Dr. Sulchek earned a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University (1996), followed by M.S. (2000) and Ph.D. (2002) in Applied Physics from Stanford University. Before joining Georgia Tech in 2008, he was a staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, where he contributed to biosecurity-related research. He was promoted to full Professor in 2019.

Research Interests: His lab develops novel tools like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) to study molecular-scale interactions in biological systems. Key areas include multivalent drug targeting, pathogen-host cell adhesion, and mechanotransduction in cellular systems. Applications span cancer therapy, infectious disease countermeasures, and regenerative medicine.

Distinctions: Sulchek has received the NSF CAREER Award (2011) and LLNL’s Excellence in iPublication Award (2006). His work bridges academia and industry, with collaborations in developing scalable microfluidic platforms for cell therapy and diagnostic applications.

Labs/Teams: The Sulchek BioMEMS Lab collaborates with institutions like Lawrence Livermore National Lab on projects involving advanced biotechnology and medical device innovation. Current efforts include CRISPR-enabled cell therapies, mechanoporation-based delivery systems, and stiffness-based cell sorting technologies.

Grants/Advising: His funding includes NSF and NIH grants supporting microfluidic biomanufacturing and mechanobiology studies. He advises on projects related to CAR T-cell engineering, ocular biomechanics, and nanomedicine.