2025 SFB Elections: Biographies
Please review the biographies and vision statements of each President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer-Elect, and Member-at-Large candidate below before casting your vote.
SuPing Lyu, PhD, Medtronic
Timmie Topoleski, PhD, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
SECRETARY/TREASURER-ELECT CANDIDATES
Gulden Camci-Unal, PhD, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD, University of Florida
Guillermo Ameer, ScD, Northwestern University
Jamal S. Lewis, PhD, University of Florida
Bingyun Li, PhD, West Virginia University
CAST YOUR BALLOt by March 18, 2025
OFFICER NOMINEES
PRESIDENT-ELECT
The President-elect shall become familiar with the duties of the President and shall, at all times, cooperate and assist with the duties of that office. In the absence of the President, the President-elect shall preside at the meetings of the Society, the Council and the Board of Directors, and perform the duties and exercise the powers of President. The term of office is for a period of one year without succession. The President-elect shall coordinate the duties of Council regarding the long-range direction and future of the Society.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Dr. SuPing Lyu is a Distinguished Scientist at Medtronic with experience in research and development in strategic and technological leadership roles. He specializes in biomaterials for implantable devices and drug-device combination products. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
SuPing is an inventor of a drug-eluting stent coating for Medtronic. The technical team that commercialized this technology was awarded the 2014 SFB’s Technology, Innovation & Development Award. Alongside the invention, he co-developed a method to control drug release rate by matching the solubility of drugs and base polymers. He is a co-inventor of portable hemodialysis technologies, for which Medtronic was awarded the 2018 FDA’s Humanity Award. He co-invented technologies supporting cardiac pacing and infection-reduction products and technologies. He has researched methods to characterize polymer degradation kinetics, which has become a tool for characterizing the stability of implantable polymers.
SuPing has been serving SFB since he become a member in 2001. He served as the Program Co-Chair of SFB in 2016 and 2017. He served multiple committees including the Devices and Materials Committee, Meeting Committee, Program Committee and Industrial Affairs Committee. For his service, SuPing was awarded the C. William Hall Award in 2021.
SuPing has experience in promoting and facilitating communications among industry, academia, and government organizations. As he became the Industry Council Chair of the American Institute of Medical And Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2023, the medical device industry faced a supply challenge due to PFAS concerns. A part of the issue was lack of scientific communication on PFAS. He led the AIMBE team to publish PFAS education materials, and he organized a roundtable meeting for the experts from EPA, FDA, device companies, and PFAS suppliers to talk with each other. Dialogues between AIMBE fellows and federal and state legislatures has continued. Changes in a state legislation on PFAS did happen. At the 2014 annual meeting, following observations that the number of industry fellow in AIMBE was low, SuPing led the call for more nominations of AIMBE fellows from industry, doubling the number of industry nominations.
SuPing has been a committee member of ISO and ASTM and an advisory board member of the Institute of Engineering in Medicine at the University of Minnesota, Dept of Biomedical Engineering at Binghamton University, etc. SuPing participated in many conferences and forums organized by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Science Foundation to discuss grand challenges, funding directions, etc. SuPing was inducted into the Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBSE) in 2020.
VISION STATEMENT: I first attended an SFB meeting in 2001. I had just completed my PhD program in Chemical Engineering and knew nothing about biomaterials. I asked a person sitting next to me what biomaterials were. This person explained me biomaterials with details that I understood. He introduced himself as Art Coury and welcomed me to contact him. When I shared this story with my colleagues at Medtronic, I learned that Dr. Coury had driven biomaterial research at Medtronic for years and made significant contributions. I was wowed. If I had known this, I would not have had the courage to ask him to explain biomaterials. At that moment, I told myself that Art was the type of person I wanted to become, and the SFB was the type of societies I wanted to associate with.
Two decades have passed, I am still a loyal member of the SFB. But I want to serve this institute at a next level, as a President-Elect.
In my vision, the SFB provides a platform to realize values of biomaterials research in products that enhance human health and quality of life. To do this, I will create a dialogue channel via the SFB for academia, industry, healthcare, and government agencies to communicate with each other so that academia and industry have opportunities to present and understand each other’s needs and achievements, and to ensure biomaterial research is guided by the healthcare purposes. I will encourage industry to share its experience of product development for the purpose of educating graduate students. I hope this will also increase the involvement of industry in the SFB. I will promote SFB to team up with other organizations that has focuses on industry, such as AIMBE and ADVAMED, for us to have better access to industry. I value collaborations between the academia and industry. However, I want to emphasize on communication first as collaboration may involve more complicated things such as IP and funding.
In alignment with this goal, I will propose SFB to lead or participate in initiatives to promote regulatory science. To commercialize a biomaterial technology, the role of regulatory science is as important as that of material sciences. Regulatory science is critical for converting research ideas into industry practice with both the quality control and large production volumes necessary to benefit patients. Although regulatory science has been promoted for years, the exact nature of regulatory sciences has not been well-defined or broadly prioritized in academia. In order for these industry paradigms to have greater importance in the education/training of engineers, the SFB should team up with regulatory, standard organizations, and industry to further develop regulatory science into standard courses for those who are interested in the career. Ultimately, we want academia to be so familiar with regulatory considerations that these are no longer a challenge when translating technologies into products.
In summary, I would be honored to serve as the next SFB President-Elect and am excited to give back to the SFB community.
Timmie Topoleski, PhD
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Timmie Topoleski is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UMBC (the University of Maryland, Baltimore County). He joined UMBC in 1990, after earning his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his B.S., M.Eng., and M.S. from Cornell University. His research interests are in the mechanics of materials for medical devices and biological tissue.
Tim actively promotes and supports diversity in biomaterials and beyond. He is currently a UMBC STRIDE Fellow (committee on Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence). He has served as an advisor for the Meyerhoff Scholars program, faculty advisor to the UMBC chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, and on the Internal Advisory Board of UMBC’s Center for Women in Technology. Tim is one of UMBC’s Marilyn E. Demorest Faculty Advancement Awardees to mentor/advise colleagues. He has received both the Outstanding Teaching and Outstanding Research awards from UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology, was named a UMBC Humanities Teaching Fellow, the UMBC Honors College Faculty of the Year, and was listed as one of UMBC’s “Professors not to Miss”. Tim served 2 terms as the President of the UMBC Faculty Senate and was named the UMBC Presidential Teaching Professor (2008-2011). He was also the interim Chair for his department.
Tim has been an active member of the Society for Biomaterials since he was a graduate student. He served the SFB in several roles: Member-at-Large (2007-08), Chair of the Bylaws Committee and Parliamentarian (2002-07), Chair of the Orthopaedic Biomaterials SIG (1999-2000), member of the Long-Range-Planning Committee (2013-2014), Chair of the Education Committee (2014-2015), and Program Chair for the 2013 SFB meeting in Boston. He helped to organize the initial US-China Joint Forums on innovation and regulation of biomaterials and remains actively involved in joint US-Chinese initiatives. As Chair of the Liaison Committee (2016-2020) he helped to foster collaborative initiatives between the SFB and other Societies, both US and International. Tim received a Coventry Award for Basic Science from the Knee Society. He joined the College of Fellows for AIMBE in 2008 and was inducted as a Fellow of the IUSBSE in 2020. He served on the Editorial Board for JBMR Part A, and currently serves as an associate editor for JBMR Part B.
He was a member of Board of Directors/Leadership Board of the Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. He was a visiting scientist at the US Food and Drug Administration, engaging in regulatory science in the Office of Engineering and Research Laboratories. Tim has been the SFB representative to the IUSBSE since 2020 and a US representative to the IUSBSE World Biomaterials Congress (WBC) Advisory Committee since 2022. He was pleased to contribute to the SFB’s successful bid to host the 2028 WBC. Most of all, he enjoys working/interacting with people at SFB meetings, participating in sessions, and fostering interactions between colleagues.
Tim is honored to have received the 2024 SFB Award for Service.
VISION STATEMENT: The SFB has given me amazing opportunities to engage with colleagues. I enjoy learning about my colleagues’ research and teaching, and other interests. I like helping people make connections and create bonds and friendships beyond our professional pursuits.
I therefore feel privileged to be nominated for president-elect of the SFB, my professional home. SFB is the preeminent leader for education and research in biomaterials science. It is an extraordinary forum for developing and maintaining collegial relationships, interacting with mentors and collaborators, promoting stimulating discussions, and is an extraordinary resource for education. To increase value to SFB members, I will focus on 4 areas: Diversity, Education & Mentoring, Collaboration, and Visibility & Promotion. My vision is that we will remain, and enhance our standing as, prominent contributors to human health and quality of life.
I am committed to growing SFB’s reputation as a welcoming environment for every member, inside and outside of the US, at all career stages. Our mission, advancing “all aspects of biomaterial science, education and professional standards to enhance human health and quality of life” is significantly enriched by bringing together people of different backgrounds. I will champion the SFB’s advocacy for inclusion and diversity, and work to provide a welcoming forum for networking and presenting/discussing cutting edge research and emerging science in biomaterials.
I am especially invested in our education and mentoring mission. One of our priorities is supporting our student and early career members. To that end, it is essential to provide opportunities for mentoring and professional growth, especially at our annual meetings. I will also continue to promote and support venues beyond the annual meeting, e.g. our regional Biomaterial Days. I will work to make the SFB a focal point for initiating and brokering relationships outside of our meetings as well, and to foster interactions between members throughout the year through online forums, open houses, and mentor “office hours”.
I will encourage and cultivate relationships between academics, industry, and government/regulatory agencies to increase our visibility, and to promote our role in improving healthcare. My experience as Liaison Committee Chair and with the FDA will be useful to continue to build bridges between the different stakeholders in the biomaterials community.
Members of the SFB have made significant and outstanding contributions toward improving human health and quality of life. I will work to increase the visibility of those contributions and to make them more accessible to the public. I will work with other societies/professional groups to expand our interactions and open new venues for sharing our research and knowledge.
I have worked with the UMBC Meyerhoff Scholarship program for many years, and one of our main tenets is “from those to whom much is given, much is expected.” I have been privileged to develop my career within the SFB, and to serve you in various capacities. I would be honored to “give back” and serve the SFB as president. If elected, I will continue to represent, and work to achieve, your expectations and goals.
CAST YOUR BALLOt by March 18, 2025
SECRETARY-TREASURER ELECT
The Secretary-Treasurer-elect shall become familiar with the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer, cooperate and assist in carrying out the duties and prepare for eventual succession to that office. In the temporary absence of the Secretary-Treasurer, the Secretary-Treasurer-elect will perform the duties and exercise the duties of the office. The term of office shall be for a period of two years without succession. The Secretary-Treasurer-elect shall be the chairperson of the Finance Committee.
Gulden Camci-Unal, PhD
University of Massachusetts Lowell
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Gulden Camci-Unal is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. In Fall 2016, she joined the faculty at UML after completing her post-doc training at Harvard Medical School and Harvard University. Her current research interests focus on the design and implementation of engineered biomaterials for tissue regeneration, fabrication of biomimetic platforms for personalized medicine, and low-cost point of care diagnostics. Dr. Camci-Unal has pioneered the development of unconventional biomaterials such as eggshell microparticle-reinforced scaffolds, paper-based cell culture platforms, origami-inspired tissue engineered products, and low-cost biosensors. Her research provides affordable, sustainable, and impactful technologies, particularly for tackling health inequities. She has been a strong advocate for democratizing tissue engineering. She has contributed to translating technology from benchtop to patient care and played a key role in efforts to commercialize engineered products in collaboration with industry partners. Dr. Camci-Unal’s research has been supported by the NIH, NSF, US Army, CDMRP, AHA, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 SBIR and STTR grants. Her research and teaching achievements have been recognized with various awards including the Robert and Gail Ward Endowed Professorship (2020-present), University of Massachusetts Lowell Teaching Excellence Award, Iowa State University Teaching Excellence Award, Runner-Up for the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) $200K Challenge, Chevron-Phillips Award, and Procter&Gamble Fellowship. She serves as an Associate Editor for Science Advances and Bioactive Materials, and as an Editorial Board member for distinct leading journals.
Dr. Camci-Unal has been an active member of the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) in the past decade and a half and served the society in various roles bringing extensive leadership experience. She has served as the Vice-Chair of the Tissue Engineering SIG (2023-present), Program Chair of the Tissue Engineering SIG (2021-2023), and as the Membership Committee Chair on the SFB Council (2022-2023). Additionally, she has contributed to the society by organizing symposia (2015-present) and sessions (2014-present), supporting programming efforts, chairing sessions (2014-present), and regularly presenting her research findings. She currently serves as the faculty advisor to the SFB student Chapter at the UML. Through her dedicated service to the SFB community and other professional societies, Dr. Camci-Unal has developed a diverse set of organizational, financial, and leadership skills.
VISION STATEMENT: I am deeply honored to be considered for the position of Secretary-Treasurer-Elect. The SFB has been my professional home in the past decade and a half, and I have been fortunate to contribute to the society in various capacities. Currently, I serve as the Vice-Chair of the Tissue Engineering SIG and as the faculty advisor for the SFB Student Chapter at UML. Previously, I had the privilege of serving as the Program Chair of the Tissue Engineering SIG (2021-2023) and as the Membership Committee Chair on the SFB Council (2022-2023). Since 2014, I have actively participated in organizing and chairing symposia and sessions, as well as supporting programming efforts. In these roles, I have gained valuable insights into strategies for enhancing member engagement, evaluating decision-making criteria for events, analyzing budget projections, and exploring fundraising approaches. These experiences have collectively prepared me for the Secretary-Treasurer-Elect role. I am committed to identifying new revenue streams, encouraging collaborative discussions, and supporting initiatives that promote thoughtful financial planning in alignment with the vision and priorities of the SFB. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about exploring opportunities to enhance publications and develop career initiatives for young professionals. If elected, I will work closely with the society’s leadership to strengthen interactions and promote collaboration across all levels.
I will emphasize diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence in all aspects of this position. I have been involved in promoting and supporting diversity within my institution and in the broader community. I have served as a faculty advisor to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter and the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program at UML. Additionally, I have served as the Awards Committee Chair for Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC) at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). As Secretary-Treasurer-Elect, I will continue to champion diversity efforts, ensuring that our society remains welcoming and inclusive for all members. I also plan to engage with industry partners to enhance the involvement of companies within the SFB. Leveraging my experience with grant agreements and collaborations with industry partners, I aim to facilitate their participation in SFB events, creating invaluable networking opportunities for all members. Beyond my contributions to the SFB community, I have been involved in other professional societies, where I have gained valuable experience in fundraising. I am committed to bringing this expertise to the SFB to further support its growth.
Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD
University of Florida
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Ben Keselowsky received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Florida and doctorate in bioengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 2005, where he is a full professor. He is funded by the NIH with past funding from NSF, foundations and industry. He serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research-Part A, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, Journal of Immunology and Regenerative Medicine, ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, and Materials Advances, and was an Associate Editor for Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology in Medicine and Biology. Additionally, he is Co-Chairing (with Lola Enioloa-Adefeso) the 2025 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Gordon Research Conference.
Ben’s research is at the interface of biomaterials science, immunology, and immune engineering, with particular focus on the interplay of biomaterials and the immune system, particle-based vaccines for autoimmunity, and decreasing inflammation through directed immunometabolism. His scholarly works are highly regarded, with highlighted publications in Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Reviews Materials, Nature Communications, Biomaterials, and Proceedings of the National Academies of Science. His work highly cited (>4,800 citations by Web of Science, h-index 34; and >7,100 citations by Google Scholar; h-index 38). His research articles have been highlighted as “groundbreaking” in Progress in Biomaterials: Celebrating the 100th Volume of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, been selected as an “Emerging Investigator” for a themed issue of the Journal of Materials Chemistry B, and other publications recognized as “highly cited… in the top 1% of their field”.
Ben’s academic home has been the Society for Biomaterials since his first meeting in 1999. SFB has been a major source for professional development, intellectual growth and personal connections. Grateful for the many opportunities this community has provided, he is committed to strengthening and growing the valuable resources this society has to offer. Ben has been active in volunteer and leadership roles in the Society for Biomaterials for many years, having organized and chaired many sessions, reviewed stacks of abstracts, and served on numerous committees (e.g., Meetings Committee, Membership Committee, Site Selection Committee, Program Committee, Long Range Planning Committee). He was a co-founder and officer of the Immune Engineering SIG. Notably, he served as the Chair of the Bylaws Committee and was on the Council for the Society for Biomaterials (2015-2019). In each of these roles, Ben strived to equitably promote the value of membership in the Society.
VISION STATEMENT: I am thrilled to be nominated as Secretary-Treasurer Elect and look forward to bolstering my commitments to the Society. The Society for Biomaterials has been my intellectual home and source of professional comradery for twenty-five years. It is a nexus for fostering scientific growth and personal support. I am committed to SFB, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful teamwork in the Society has been a personal highlight of my career. Serving as a member of SFB Council educated me regarding much of the inner workings of the Society and has informed my perspective that fiscal stewardship is foundational to the future of our Society.
The Society is challenged to compete by expanding valuable initiatives but must carefully balance this with the revenue streams generated by the Society journals and events. The Secretary-Treasurer’s task is to provide clearheaded assessment and insights regarding the fiscal status of the Society.
If elected, I will seek diverse perspectives from the breadth of our members about the perceived value of various Society initiatives. I will then work with Council and the Board to equitably support these initiatives in a financially responsible way. I believe the Society should continually assess and refine its mission and policies. I will prioritize maintaining the SFB tradition of excellence, while embracing inclusive communication, modernizing operations, and expanding diverse community participation. I am particularly in favor of generating new opportunities for professional development for trainees and early-stage scientists wherever possible, which will pay dividends as these members succeed and grow in their careers.
CAST YOUR BALLOt by March 18, 2025
MEMBER-AT-LARGE
The Member-at-Large shall serve as an unencumbered representative of the membership at meetings of both the Board of Directors and Council. The Member-at-Large shall serve for a period of one year.
Guillermo Ameer, ScD
Northwestern University
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Dr. Ameer is the Daniel Hale Williams professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery at Northwestern University. He is the founding director of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering (CARE), director of the NIH-funded Regenerative Engineering Training Program (RE-Training), and Deputy Editor at Science Advances, a journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Ameer’s laboratory pioneered the development and tissue regeneration applications of citrate-based biomaterials, the core technology behind innovative bioresorbable orthopaedic tissue fixation devices CITRELOCK,TM CITREFIX,TM CITRESPLINE,TM CITRELOCK ACL,TM and CITRELOCK DUO,TM and the CITREPORE,TM synthetic bone void filler, which were recently cleared by the F.D.A for clinical use.
His awards include the Key to the City of Panama, the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) Clemson Award for Contributions to the Literature, the SFB Technology Innovation and Development Award, the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society-Americas the Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation Excellence in Biomaterials Science Award, the Chinese Association for Biomaterials Global Biomaterials Leadership Award, the Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Biomedical Engineering Society Athanasiou Medal for Excellence in Translational Bioengineering. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Fellow of the AIChE, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Fellow of the Materials Research Society. In addition to his deputy editor role at Science Advances, Dr. Ameer is an Associate Editor for the Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine journal, a member of the board of directors of the Regenerative Engineering Society, and past chair of the AIMBE College of Fellows.
VISION STATEMENT: It is an honor to be nominated to be member at large for the Society for Biomaterials (SFB). I have worked in the biomaterials science and engineering field for over 2 decades. My contributions include publications in the areas of regenerative biomaterials, bioresorbable medical devices, drug delivery, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and regenerative engineering. I have served on advisory boards for the U.S. government and companies with a focus on biomaterials and have started several companies that rely on biomaterials science and engineering as a foundation for innovative products. Some of our biomaterial technologies have been commercialized and now used in thousands or patients nationwide in musculoskeletal reconstructive surgeries. SFB is the leading national organization that brings together biomaterials scientists and engineers from industry and academic institutions and I believe we can continue to grow and create an inclusive culture as we contribute solutions to the medical and biological challenges in society and have a transformative impact on healthcare worldwide. Using my experience as an academic researcher/educator, entrepreneur, and former SFB scientific program co-chair, Board member of The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), the Regenerative Engineering Society, and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, I will represent our membership’s interests to position the society for a sustainable future and help SFB become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the profession and our stakeholders. In addressing these issues, I will help the leadership team develop and implement a strategic plan to increase SFB’s diversity and its interactions with industry, medical professional societies, and government. In summary, I believe that for SFB to continue to grow and remain relevant to its constituents we must strive to build our brand and put on high quality scientific programs and meetings that are relevant to our members and the community in general. This process must take into account the stakeholders described above and other high profile scientific societies.
Jamal S. Lewis, PhD
University of Florida
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Jamal Lewis is an Associate Professor in J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Prior to his professorship, Dr. Lewis was Senior Scientist at OneVax, LLC (Inspira Therapeutics) and a Post-doctoral Associate in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, where he also received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2012. Dr. Lewis completed his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Florida A&M University in 2004, and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2007 from North Carolina State University. His research, educational and entrepreneurial efforts have been supported by the NIH and DOD. His honors and awards include the prestigious NIGMS Early and Established Investigator MIRAs, UF Alumni Association 40 under 40, Regenerative Medicine Workshop Young Faculty Award, and the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Young Innovators Award.
VISION STATEMENT: For the past 15 years, the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) has been my academic home. My first professional conference as a Ph.D. student was the SFB annual meeting in 2009 in Seattle, Washington. Since then, I have grown up in this society and have had the privilege of serving in several different capacities including as Program Chair for the Immune Engineering SIG. My other contributions include serving on the SFB membership committee (twice), the SFB Awards Committee, and in 2022, I had the joy of helping to coordinate the annual meeting as part of the Program Committee.
As a member, I have benefitted tremendously from the relationships fostered, intellectual indulgence and innovation in biomaterials that is driven by this wonderful society. As your new member-at-large, I intend to serve as a proactive advocate to not only maintain the attributes of the society that have engendered my pilgrimage to SFB at all stages of my career, but further enhance these features.
My objectives as member-at-large will focus on:
- generating greater student interest,
- fostering improved relationships with current industry members,
- reigniting interest and participation of past members
- and cultivating a collaborative environment where every voice is valued.
Through strategic planning, transparent communication, and a commitment to excellence, I will work to strengthen connections among members and drive these meaningful initiatives. Ultimately, I will strive to advance the society’s vision of being the world's preeminent interactive global community for advancing excellence in all aspects of biomaterial science, engineering and technology for promoting human health and well-being.
Bingyun Li, PhD
West Virginia University
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Dr. Bingyun Li is a Full Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at West Virginia University, where he is the Director of the Nanomedicine Laboratory. Dr. Li joined West Virginia University as an Assistant Professor in 2005 and was promoted to Associate and Full Professor in 2011 and 2017, respectively. He has been a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering since 2018. Dr. Li’s research focus is orthopaedic biomaterials with an emphasis on innovative therapeutics and biomaterials for infection prevention and treatment. His research has been funded by NIH, DoD, DoE, and NSF. He has published 114 peer-reviewed journal papers (h-index=54), 11 book chapters, four edited books, and 14 U.S. patents and patent disclosures. His group has produced 157 scientific abstracts and he has given 68 invited talks including three Keynote Talks at national and international conferences. He has mentored and trained 117 trainees; 31% of them are women and people from underrepresented groups in sciences.
Dr. Li has been active in the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) since the beginning of his career. He has served as the Liaison Committee (2020-2024), which supports the inter-society collaboration opportunities (e.g., joint events) to enrich the experiences and benefits of SFB members. In recent years, the committee has supported joint SFB/MRS virtual workshop series and SFB symposia at MS&T conferences. Moreover, Dr. Li has served multiple times as the Vice Chair (2011-2013 and 2013-2015) and Chair (2015-2017 and 2017-2019) of the Orthopaedic Biomaterials Special Interest Group (SIG). During those years, the Orthopaedic Biomaterials SIG hosted various social events for SIG members, sponsored many symposia at SFB annual meetings and World Biomaterials Congress meetings, promoted member recognition, and significantly increased the SIG membership. The Orthopaedic Biomaterials SIG also co-sponsored multiple joint symposia with other societies including the Orthopaedic Research Society. In addition, Dr. Li has been an abstract reviewer (2006-present) for the SFB annual meetings and has organized and chaired more than 20 symposia. Dr. Li is also active in the Orthopaedic Research Society, American Society for Microbiology, Materials Research Society, American Chemical Society, and Chinese Association for Biomaterials, where he has served in various roles including President, Treasurer, Secretary, Chief Editor of newsletter, Topic Chair, committee member, etc.
VISION STATEMENT: The Society for Biomaterials (SFB) has always been my academic society home and it will be a great honor to serve as a Member-at-Large. I will dedicate my energy and passion to serving our SFB community.
If elected, I will engage with various committees and focus on initiatives and programs that will increase the participation of students and early career investigators; I will advance their symposium ideas in the annual scientific programs. I will support the recruitment and retention of new members including those from academia, industry, and government as well as clinicians. I will strive to promote networking opportunities for all of our members.
As a basic scientist working in a clinical department (i.e., Orthopaedics) for about 20 years, I appreciate the great interactions between basic scientists and clinicians. I also greatly appreciate opportunities that bring engineers, biologists, and clinicians together to solve clinical problems. As a Member-at-Large, I will help our SFB build stronger connections among engineers, biologists, and clinicians by promoting multidisciplinary symposium ideas and events. I have served in various leadership roles in multiple societies and have mentored more than 100 trainees. I believe my experience will enable me to serve our SFB community well, and it would be my privilege to serve as a Member-at-Large.