About Dr. Melissa Grunlan
Dr. Melissa Grunlan is the Charles H. and Bettye Barclay Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU). She holds courtesy appointments in the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Chemistry. After completing her B.S and M.S., Dr. Grunlan was employed at the H.B. Fuller Company (St. Paul, MN) for four years where she held titles of Chemist and then Senior Chemist. Next, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Following a post-doc in the Department of Chemistry (TAMU), Dr. Grunlan was hired as an Assistant Professor [2005]. She was awarded tenure at promoted to Associate Professor [2011], and then promoted to Full Professor [2017]. For the last 16 years, Dr. Grunlan has built an internationally-recognized research program focused on the development of polymeric biomaterials for medical devices and environmentally-friendly coatings. Her technologies include osteochondral scaffolds, shape memory polymer bone scaffolds, synthetic cartilage, self-cleaning biosensor membranes, and antifouling silicones. Dr. Grunlan has received numerous awards from TAMU, including the prestigious Presidential Impact Fellow, and Chancellor EDGES Fellow. She is Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Dr. Grunlan served as Chair of the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials Science & Engineering. She is a member of the editorial advisory boards of three ACS journals, as well as for three other journals. Her research has been reported in 88 peer-reviewed publications, and has been sponsored by the NIH, NSF, DoD laboratories, and several companies.
Education
8/2001-8/2004
Ph.D., Chemistry
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
8/1995-5/1997
M.S., Polymers and Coatings
North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)
8/1991 – 8/1995
B.S., Chemistry
North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)
Academic Experience
9/2017 – present
Professor
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering (courtesy)
Dept. of Chemistry (courtesy)
9/2011 – 8/2017
Associate Professor
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering (courtesy)
8/2005 – 8/2011
Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science & Engineering Program
9/2004 – 8/2005
Post-doctoral research associate
Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
Dept. of Chemistry
Academic Administrative Experience
9/2012 – present
Associate Department Head
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
8/2019 – 8/2020
Director of Research
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
10/2013- 9/2017
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Texas A&M University
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Industrial Research Experience
7/1997 – 8/2001
Senior chemist
H.B. Fuller Company (St. Paul, MN)
