SFB 2025-2027 SIG Representative Nominees
The Society For Biomaterials Bylaws, Article IX, Section 2 states:
Special Interest Group Chair: Every two years, the committee shall elect the Special Interest Group Representative who shall serve as the chair of the SIG Committee and an Officer and Director of the Society. Candidates for Special Interest Group Representative shall include all current Special Interest Group chairpersons and individuals who have served as a Special Interest Group chairperson within the 3 years immediately prior to the election.
Please review the biographies and vision statements of each candidate below before casting your ballot:
Mary Beth Monroe, PhD
Syracuse University
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Mary Beth Monroe, Ph.D., joined the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and the Syracuse BioInspired Institute at Syracuse University as an Assistant Professor in August 2018 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2024. She received her B.S. in Engineering Science from Trinity University in 2009 and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2013. Her dissertation research on tissue engineered vascular grafts was recognized by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the PEO Scholar Award. Dr. Monroe conducted postdoctoral research on protein engineering for wound healing at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Houston, Texas, which was supported by the NIH National Research Service Postdoctoral Award. Then, Dr. Monroe served as a laboratory manager and research scientist in the Biomedical Device Lab at Texas A&M, where she worked on shape memory polymer-based medical devices. Her current research on using smart materials to improve wound healing is supported by a talented team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers and has received funding from the NIH, U.S. Air Force, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Her research was recently recognized by the SFB Young Investigator Award (2024), and she is the advisor of four previous recipients of the SFB Student Award for Outstanding Research (Ph.D.: 2022, 2023, and 2025; M.S.: 2022). Dr. Monroe is moving her lab to the department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M in summer 2025, where she will continue her biomaterials-focused research program.
VISION STATEMENT:
I have been involved in SFB since my first semester as a graduate student at Texas A&M in 2009, when I was the lead student volunteer that helped organize the first Texas Biomaterials Day. While in graduate school, I continued my commitment to SFB by helping institute the Texas A&M SFB Student Chapter, of which I served as Vice-President for 2 years; attending and presenting at multiple annual meetings; and volunteering for subsequent Texas Biomaterials Days.
During my time as a postdoctoral fellow and research scientist, I began engaging with SFB further by reviewing abstracts and co-chairing sessions. When I began my faculty position at Syracuse University, I worked with a graduate student in my department to re-start the previously inactive student chapter of SFB in 2019, of which I have served as the faculty advisor for 6 years. Since we re-initiated the student chapter, there is a new energy in the organization. The chapter won 1st place in the Biomaterials Education Challenge in 2022 and has used the funds to support a Girl Scouts Science Badge symposium. Other events include a mix of social (game nights, popsicle parties) and outreach (K-12 school visits, retirement community visits) activities that are increasingly well-attended by engaged undergraduate and graduate students.
I have organized and chaired 7 annual meeting sessions over the past 5 years, and my students consistently attend and present at SFB each year (28 total presentations by my undergraduate and graduate students over the past 5 years), and my students have won 4 total SFB Student Awards for Outstanding Research since 2022 (Henry Beaman: PhD 2022, Natalie Petryk: MS 2022, Maryam Ramezani: PhD 2023, and Nghia Thair: PhD 2025) in addition to multiple STAR awards and honorable mentions and poster awards.
At the national level, I served on the Industrial Affairs committee within SFB, where I helped judge the Industry Rising Star Award competition in 2023. I have been the Chair of the BioInterfaces SIG since 2023. As chair, I worked to expand the definition of BioInterfaces within the SFB community to include research from fundamental mechanobiological processes on biomaterials to applied biomaterials that elicit specific clinical functions. Furthermore, the definition of ‘cells’ at these interfaces has been expanded to include mammalian, bacterial, and fungal cells and studies of how these different cell types interact to affect biomaterial function, which has been reflected in recent BioInterfaces SIG-sponsored annual meeting sessions. I continued to support ongoing efforts in the SIG, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund BioInterfaces Rising Star Award, for which I secured an additional $10,000 in funding; the awards committee; and sponsored poster awards, all of which highlight faculty and trainee research in BioInterfaces.
As SIG Representative, I will continue my commitment to SFB. Coming from a relatively small SIG (BioInterfaces), I aim to ensure that all SIGs are heard and that they are represented fairly. I will encourage SIGs to participate in annual meetings through session proposals, abstract reviews, and STAR Award selections, and I will share important news from each SIG in The Biomaterials Forum. It would be an honor to serve SFB as the SIG representative, and I am confident that my previous experience with SFB has set me up to succeed in this role.
Katelyn E. Swindle-Reilly, PhD
The Ohio State University
BIOGRAPHY:
Katelyn Swindle-Reilly, PhD, is an Associate Professor and College of Engineering Innovation Scholar in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a courtesy appointment in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at The Ohio State University. She received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed postdoctoral training in Biomedical Engineering at Saint Louis University and then worked for several years developing wound care products for Rochal Industries. Her current research projects focus on the design of polymeric biomaterials for soft tissue repair and drug delivery with applications in ophthalmology, cancer, orthopedics, and women’s health. Her work on ocular biomaterials has been recognized by several awards, and she has advocated to Congress for supporting research funding through the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research. She also serves as Chief Technology Officer of Vitranu, a startup working on ocular drug delivery technologies. She is passionate about advocating for entrepreneurship and commercialization of academic research, and has been actively involved in Society for Biomaterials since joining as a graduate student (approaching 2 decades!).
VISION STATEMENT:
I am honored by this opportunity to serve Society for Biomaterials as the Special Interest Group (SIG) Program Chair. I have substantial Society for Biomaterials leadership and service experience, including serving on the Diversity Committee (2024-present), Membership Committee (2022-2024), acting as the Ophthalmic SIG Chair (two terms, 2021-2025) and Programming Chair (2019-2021), and serving on the Bylaws Committee (2014-2015). I am also actively involved in meetings, serving on the planning committee for the Midwest Regional Symposium (2024), helping to plan and promote the joint sessions of Society for Biomaterials at the Materials Science & Technology Conference, and serving as a judge of the Business Pitch Competition at the Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting. My career spanning academia and industry has shown me the power of multidisciplinary connections in fundamental biomaterials research through commercial translation. If elected, I will support the society’s mission to promote “advancements in all aspects of biomaterial science, education and professional standard to enhance human health and quality of life.” My overall vision for this position is to leverage my previous experiences with society-wide committees and small SIGs to ensure that every SIG has an active voice in the society. I would like to increase meaningful SIG membership, particularly increasing trainee and industry representation. I recognize that larger SIGs have different challenges than the smaller SIGs, so I propose more cross-pollination of SIGs through webinars, mixers, and events like the business pitch competition to help meet the needs of all the SIGs. I will also work to highlight the positive contributions biomaterials make to society, including having SIG members’ accomplishments highlighted regularly and disseminated to the public. Enhancing the public profile of the SIGs will strengthen membership and facilitate networking opportunities for trainees and society members, ultimately increasing our impact.
Janet Zoldan, PhD
University of Texas at Austin
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Zoldan received her BSc degree in chemistry from the Hebrew University and then pursued her master's and doctorate degrees in the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Engineering, specializing in polymer science. She joined Dr. Shulamit Levenberg's Lab at the Technion for her postdoctoral training and delved into stem cell biology. Receiving both the Aly Kauffman Fellowship and the Technion's Outstanding Woman Scientist in Engineering Awards allowed her to join Dr. Robert Langer's lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the Langer lab, she focused on nucleic acid delivery to human embryonic stem cells and microfluidic protein delivery. In 2013, Dr. Zoldan joined The University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor. Research in the Zoldan lab focuses on human induced pluripotent stem cells as a model system to explore key principles underlying cardiovascular tissue formation processes and regenerating ischemic tissue. As of September 2020, Dr. Zoldan was promoted to associate professor with tenure. She currently holds the Endowed William J. Murray, Jr. Fellowship in Engineering No. 3.
Dr. Zoldan’s research has contributed two patents and 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, published in top journals of her field. Under her guidance, three M.S. students and four Ph.D. students have successfully completed their graduate degrees, launching promising careers in industry or prestigious institutions like Stanford University. Notably, she received the Scientist Development Grant from the American Heart Association, the Alliance of Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training seed grant, and was honored as a 2017 Emerging Investigator by the Journal of Biomaterials Science. As an NIH Trailblazer awardee, she demonstrates the potential to pioneer new biomedical investigations. Dr. Zoldan is an active contributor to the scientific community. She was elected as Chair of the Engineering Cells and Their Microenvironments (ECTM) Special Interest Group (SIG) at the Society of Biomaterials (SFB) and has served on the scientific advisory board for the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society World Congress. Currently, she is organizing the 2024 Southwest Biomaterials Fall Symposium and co-organizing the symposium on "Biomaterials for Regenerative Engineering" at the Materials Research Society 2024 Fall meeting. Most recently, Dr. Zoldan has launched a new journal as part of the Nature Portfolio journals and serving as the editor-in-chief of npj Biomedical Innovations.
VISION STATEMENT:
As SIG Representative for the Society for Biomaterials (SFB), I bring a distinct combination of scientific expertise, leadership experience, and a strategic vision to elevate the role of SIGs within the society. My goal is to ensure that SIGs drive the future of biomaterials research, influence policy, and create opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and career development.
Unique Expertise & Leadership
Scientific Leadership – With expertise in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, I understand the emerging challenges and opportunities in the field. My background allows me to connect diverse SIG interests and ensure that our programming aligns with the most pressing scientific advancements.
Previous leadership positions in SFB – I have been deeply engaged with the Society of Biomaterials (SFB), serving in multiple leadership roles within the Engineering Cells and Their Microenvironment Special Interest Group (SIG)—rising from Secretary-Treasurer to Vice Chair, and now proudly serving as Chair. Additionally, I contribute to the governance of the Society through active participation in the Bylaws and Finance Committee.
Program Development Experience – As ECTM Chair, I organized research webinars to promote trainees and early-career researchers, moderated conference sessions, and co-organized a joint SIG social mixer to foster collaboration among trainees, industry professionals, and faculty. I have successfully organized high-impact symposia, including serving on the advisory committee for the TERMIS World Congress (2021), co-organizing the “Biomaterials for Regenerative Engineering” symposium at MRS (2024), and co-chairing the 2024 Southwest Biomaterials Fall Symposium. I will leverage this experience to expand SIG programming, special sessions, and SFB initiatives.
Vision for the SIG Representative Role
Elevating SIG Influence & Scientific Impact – I will advocate for stronger SIG representation in decision-making, expand SIG-led special sessions and symposia, and align SIGs with funding and policy opportunities to shape the future of biomaterials research.
Enhancing Engagement & Collaboration – I will promote cross-SIG through joint workshops and symposia at the Annual Meeting and throughout the year via targeted webinars. To strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, I propose establishing an annual SIG Leaders Summit and quarterly roundtables, ensuring sustained engagement and strategic partnerships across SIGs.
Strengthening Recognition & Career Development – I am committed to building the next generation of leaders by expanding mentorship opportunities and strengthening SIG leadership pipelines. I will launch a formal mentorship program and speed networking events to connect early-career researchers with senior leaders, ensuring diverse perspectives shape the society’s long-term growth.