Karen Lozano, Rice University
Engineering the Future: The Role of Nanofibers in Innovation and Societal Impact
Nanofibers are a transformative class of materials with tunable properties that have opened new frontiers across industries such as healthcare, energy, environmental remediation, and advanced manufacturing. This talk will delve into the synthesis-structure-property relationships that define nanofiber performance, along with the scale-up processes necessary to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world applications. Advances in the Forcespinning technique and the ability to engineer nanofiber systems with tailored structural, electrical, thermal, catalytic, and optical properties have expanded their potential, underscoring the pivotal role of materials science in driving high-impact technological advancements. Beyond their scientific and industrial significance, nanofiber research has been a catalyst for community transformation. This presentation will highlight how innovation-driven research, when integrated with a strong educational mission, can empower students and strengthen communities.
Bio
Karen Lozano is currently the Trustee Professor and Department Chair of the Materials Science and NanoEngineering department at Rice University. She started this position in January 2025, for the previous 25 years she was the Julia Beecherl Endowed Mechanical Engineering Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Founding Director of the UTRGV Nanotechnology Center and PhD program of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (first Ph.D. program in the College of Engineering). Since 2000, Lozano has creatively combined undergraduate (UG) education with state-of-the-art research projects. Through strategically designed projects and work environment, she has driven an exciting educational/social/economic mobility experience for hundreds of at-risk students, all now leading successful careers in industry, academia, or government labs. She has determinedly led a far-reaching transformation at a once, non-PhD teaching institution. Her efforts have led to 100% retention and graduation rates for over six hundred students who worked on her NanoTeam. She has successfully opened pathways to graduate school, over 50 students from her team have pursued PhD degrees in Engineering. She is the recipient of several honors such as member of the National Academy of Engineering, US Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, TEDx Speaker, and Engineer of the Year by Great Minds in STEM. Lozano’s team at UTRGV, composed primarily of undergraduate students, published >180 peer reviewed scientific journal articles and >600 proceedings/conference presentations. She is a prolific inventor, and has co-founded two companies, one of which received international awards such as the R&D 100. Her technology coined Forcespinning® is leading industrial production of nanofibers. She outreaches to thousands of K-16 students through summer camps, magic/science shows, and social media. Lozano received a Lone Star EMMY award for the developed Energy & U TV show. Dr. Lozano earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) and MS and PhD degrees from Rice University. https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/karen-lozano-phd-nae-fnai