Dr. Ana Maria Porras stands as a distinguished scholar redefining the intersection of biomedical engineering and microbiology through innovative approaches to understanding human-microbe interactions. She serves as Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida's J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, where she leads the Tissue-Microbe Interactions laboratory. Originally from Colombia, where both her parents were engineering professors, Dr. Porras immigrated to the United States after high school to pursue biomedical engineering studies, a field unavailable in her home country. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, followed by both her Master's and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was also an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellow.
Dr. Porras's research focuses on engineering in vitro models of disease to study human-microbe interactions mediated by the extracellular matrix, with particular emphasis on applications in gut microbiome analysis, neglected tropical diseases, and cardiovascular health. Her laboratory has developed sophisticated tissue engineering approaches that enable researchers to better understand pathogenic mechanisms while exploring beneficial microbial relationships within the human body. Beyond her technical research, Dr. Porras has gained international recognition for creating crocheted representations of microorganisms as an innovative science communication tool that makes complex microbiological concepts accessible to diverse audiences, particularly children in Colombia and Spanish-speaking communities. This unique approach has not only garnered her significant public attention but has also established her as a leading voice in creative science outreach, culminating in her selection as an IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, Dr. Porras co-founded the LatinX in Biomedical Engineering community with Brian Aguado, creating a vital network that supports Latinx representation and success in biomedical engineering. Her commitment to broadening participation in science has been recognized with prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award, the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science, and the Society for Biomaterials Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. In 2022, she was honored with a 3D-printed statue displayed at the Smithsonian Institution as part of the IF/THEN exhibit, celebrating her contributions to science and public engagement. Dr. Porras continues to develop bilingual and artistic strategies to engage communities globally while advancing her laboratory's research on tissue-microbe interactions, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to both scientific excellence and equitable science education.
