Surya K. Mallapragada, a professor and chair in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, will speak on her work this evening in a lecture titled ‘Self-assembling Polymers for Gene Delivery and Biomineralization’.

The lecture will focus on two aspects of her research, the biomedical applications of gene delivery and biomineralization.

Gene delivery is the medical process of placing foreign DNA into malfunctioning cells. This procedure is used cure patients with specific types of diseases. Commonly used in cancer patients, gene therapy delivers genes to cancerous cells, causing them to die.

Mallapragada will also discuss her work in biomineralization. This research looks at nano composites or the structures of particular body parts. With this procedure, organic materials, such as bone, will be able to be recreated and injected in patients with bone malfunctions.

As a result of her tireless research, Mallapragada has received awards from prestigious organizations. In 2002, she was placed on the TR35 list, a compilation of the top 35 under 35 in the world produced by the MIT Technology Review. Mallapragada also received a Career Award from the National Science Foundation and is a fellow in several different societies based on her 15 years of research.

Before working at Iowa State, Mallapragada graduated from Purdue University with a PhD in chemical engineering. She is glad she chose to peruse this degree for, “The possibilities are endless in chemical engineering.

Sigma Xi, the Women’s Leadership Consortium, and the Committee on Lectures are sponsoring tonight’s lecture.

Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, sponsors national and local lectures. Mallapragada was selected as one of this year’s Local Honor lectures. As stated by event coordinator Chris Minion, “Professor Mallapragada is an outstanding scientist and is well known for her contributions to the field of biomaterials engineering. She has excelled in the education of the next generation of engineers and has served as an excellent role model for young women in the sciences.”

Not only do these students have a role model in Mallapragada, but she is grateful for her student’s work. As she states about her lecture, “All of the work I will be talking about has been done by some incredible students over the years. They are the ones that are doing the hard work and have gotten some wonderful ideas from them. Being a professor is the best job in the world.”

Mallapragada will be speaking at 7 p.m. in the Cardinal Room at the Memorial Union.