Dr. Ali Miserez is a distinguished scholar at the forefront of biomimetic and bioinspired materials research, and has been a Full Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University since 2021 and holds a joint appointment in the School of Biological Sciences. Since joining NTU in 2009, he has established himself as a leading figure who bridges the disciplines of materials science and biology to unlock nature's design principles. He earned his doctoral degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland in 2003, laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary research trajectory. His academic career has been marked by strategic appointments that position him uniquely at the intersection of biological complexity and material functionality.
Professor Miserez's pioneering research has focused on elucidating the molecular, physico-chemical, and structural principles underlying unique biological materials, with particular emphasis on marine adhesives and biomimetic systems. His groundbreaking work on the molecular mechanisms of barnacle adhesion represents a paradigm shift in understanding how marine organisms create exceptionally strong underwater adhesives through sophisticated structural biology and computational approaches. His recent contributions include the development of peptide-based complex coacervates stabilized by cation-π interactions for cell engineering applications, as well as accelerated engineering of ELP-based materials through hybrid biomimetic-de novo predictive molecular design. These innovations have significant implications for developing next-generation biomaterials with applications spanning medical adhesives, tissue engineering, and sustainable materials.
As Principal Investigator on multiple high-impact research projects including the NICOP-funded study on barnacle adhesion and FRONTIERS in Physical and Life Sciences initiative, Professor Miserez has fostered extensive collaborations across international research communities. His leadership extends to mentoring the next generation of scientists who are advancing the field of biomimetic materials through both fundamental discoveries and practical applications. His current research program continues to push boundaries by investigating novel biological materials systems and translating nature's design principles into sustainable engineering solutions. Looking forward, Professor Miserez's work promises to catalyze transformative advances in how we design and engineer materials with unprecedented functionality inspired by millions of years of biological evolution.
