Wil V. Srubar

Wil V. Srubar is a Professor and Charles Victor Schelke Endowed Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. He serves as the Deming Associate Dean for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. His research focuses on biomimetic and living materials, alternative cement materials, and reducing embodied carbon in construction. He holds a PhD from Stanford University (2013), MS from UT Austin (2008), and BS from Texas A&M (2006).

His work integrates synthetic biology with civil engineering to develop self-healing materials and carbon-negative construction solutions. Notable achievements include pioneering engineered living building materials and developing bio-inspired antifreeze polymers for concrete durability. He has been recognized with awards including the 2025 American Ceramic Society Fellowship and the 2023 Schmidt Science Polymaths Award.

• Education:
  • PhD, Civil Engineering, Stanford University, 2013
  • MS, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2008
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2006

Research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable materials, including biomineralization processes, carbon sequestration in construction, and AI-driven material optimization. His lab explores novel applications of microbial-induced carbonation and diatom-based materials. Recent work addresses whole-life carbon emissions of building materials and scalable low-carbon cement alternatives.

• Awards:
  • 2025 Srubar Lab/Campus Sustainability Award
  • 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Nominee
  • 2020 NSF CAREER Award
  • 2017 ENR Top 20 Under 40

Led initiatives like the Carbon-Negative Pilot project and contributed to DOE building energy studies. Current projects investigate 3D-printed bio-based insulation and AI for material property prediction. His work bridges academia and industry, fostering entrepreneurial ventures in sustainable construction technologies.