Willits

Rebecca Kuntz Willits, Ph.D.
Education: Ph.D. 1999 Chemical Eng., Cornell University M.S. 1996 Chemical Eng., The Johns Hopkins University B.S. 1994 Chemical Eng., Tufts University Awards and Honors: Saint Louis University Women’s Commission Faculty Woman of the Year (2006) Emerson Gold Star Grant (2006) CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Missouri Professor of the Year (2005) Emerson Faculty Excellence Award (2003) APCS Outstanding Faculty of the Year (2002) Faculty Excellence Award (2002) Sigma Xi (2002) NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop (1999) Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Society (1992) Contact Information: Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Saint Louis University 3507 Lindell Blvd St. Louis, MO 63103 willitsr@slu.edu (314) 977-8273 Lab Website: Tissue Engineering Laboratory Course Websites: BMEP330, BMEP430 Current Funding: National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates. Project Entitled: “REU Site: BioEngineering at Saint Louis University (BE@SLU)”. 5/1/2009 – 4/30/2011. This REU site program entitled Bioengineering at Saint Louis University (BE@SLU) will engage early career undergraduate students in research experiences in the field of bioengineering for a 9 week summer program. Role: PI/Director. National Science Foundation, CBET Grant. Project Entitled: “Design of 3D Polymer Systems to Control Nerve Growth” 8/1/2008-7/31/2011. The goal of this project is to characterize the mechanical and chemical properties that encourage and guide 3D neural growth in polyethylene glycol scaffolds. Role: PI. St. Louis Institute of Nanomedicine: Pilot Grant Award. Project Entitled: “Quantum Dots to Investigate Neuronal Communication as an Environmental Sensor.” 9/1/2009 – 8/31/2010. PI: Amy Harkins (Pharmacology and Physiological Sciences), Co-PIs: Shelley Minteer (Chemistry) and Rebecca Willits (Biomedical Engineering). Previous Funding: National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant. Project Entitled: “Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope for Biological and Bioengineering Research.” 2004-2007: The goal of this project was to acquire a confocal microscope to be used on the undergraduate campus of the university. This proposal was written in conjunction with Biology and Psychology. Supplement received for 2 undergraduate REU positions for summer 2006 for the study of neurite growth in 3D scaffolds on the confocal microscope. Role: Co-PI. National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation Grant. Project Entitled: “MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Biological Materials Research and Training.” 11/01/2006-10/31/2009. The goal of this project was to acquire an atomic force microscope for research in materials at Saint Louis University. The proposal was written in conjunction with Biology and Chemistry. Role: PI.

Rebecca Kuntz Willits, Ph.D.

Education:: Ph.D. 1999 Chemical Eng., Cornell University; M.S. 1996 Chemical Eng., The Johns Hopkins University; B.S. 1994 Chemical Eng., Tufts University

Awards and Honors:: Saint Louis University Women’s Commission Faculty Woman of the Year (2006); Emerson Gold Star Grant (2006); CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Missouri Professor of the Year (2005); Emerson Faculty Excellence Award (2003); APCS Outstanding Faculty of the Year (2002); Faculty Excellence Award (2002); Sigma Xi (2002); NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop (1999); Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Society (1992)

Contact Information:: Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Saint Louis University; 3507 Lindell Blvd; St. Louis, MO 63103; willitsr@slu.edu; (314) 977-8273

Lab Website: Tissue Engineering Laboratory
Course Websites: BMEP330, BMEP430

Current Funding:

National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates. Project Entitled: “REU Site: BioEngineering at Saint Louis University (BE@SLU)”. 5/1/2009 – 4/30/2011. This REU site program entitled Bioengineering at Saint Louis University (BE@SLU) will engage early career undergraduate students in research experiences in the field of bioengineering for a 9 week summer program. Role: PI/Director.
National Science Foundation, CBET Grant. Project Entitled: “Design of 3D Polymer Systems to Control Nerve Growth” 8/1/2008-7/31/2011. The goal of this project is to characterize the mechanical and chemical properties that encourage and guide 3D neural growth in polyethylene glycol scaffolds. Role: PI.
St. Louis Institute of Nanomedicine: Pilot Grant Award. Project Entitled: “Quantum Dots to Investigate Neuronal Communication as an Environmental Sensor.” 9/1/2009 – 8/31/2010. PI: Amy Harkins (Pharmacology and Physiological Sciences), Co-PIs: Shelley Minteer (Chemistry) and Rebecca Willits (Biomedical Engineering).

Previous Funding:

National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant. Project Entitled: “Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope for Biological and Bioengineering Research.” 2004-2007: The goal of this project was to acquire a confocal microscope to be used on the undergraduate campus of the university. This proposal was written in conjunction with Biology and Psychology. Supplement received for 2 undergraduate REU positions for summer 2006 for the study of neurite growth in 3D scaffolds on the confocal microscope. Role: Co-PI.
National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation Grant. Project Entitled: “MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Biological Materials Research and Training.” 11/01/2006-10/31/2009. The goal of this project was to acquire an atomic force microscope for research in materials at Saint Louis University. The proposal was written in conjunction with Biology and Chemistry. Role: PI.

Fall 2008: (L-R) Hannah Kutosky, Laura Marquardt, Becca Scott, Ashley Hobgood, Katelyn Swindle, & Wenda Zhou Dr. Willits' research interests include developing novel polymeric biomaterials, tissue engineering and drug delivery. We have several projects underway that investigate the ability of both natural and synthetic polymers to act as supports for cell growth or to replace diseased materials in the body. Typically, we are interested in exploring properties of materials that best mimic the original function of the organ being studied. One focus is the nervous system, where we are developing scaffolds to act as a support and guide regrowing nerves. To better design these materials, we are developing a computational model to mimic nerve growth in 3D. This model, based on actual nerve growth in 3D, will help guide future experiments by predicting optimal scaffold properties. Another focus is orthopedics, where we are examining materials that could act as both an adhesive between implants and bone and support or encourage bone growth and integration. Finally, we are also examining possible materials to act as a replacement for the lens material in the eye after cataract surgery.

To enhance the undergraduate experience at SLU, many of our students participate in undergraduate research. There are opportunities to become involved as early as freshman year. Typically, students volunteer in the laboratories to learn what research is being conducted and to be trained on the equipment and good laboratory technique. Depending on funding, a few students are able to have federal work-study positions. In the junior and senior years, students have the opportunity to participate in independent research and senior honors research, giving them invaluable experience with their own research project. Students in the tissue engineering laboratory have been rewarded for their hard work with both local and national recognition and funding.

Student Awards for Research:: Rebecca Scott, 2009 SACNAS Undergraduate Presentation Award; Laura Marquardt, 2008 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Andrea Brock, 2007 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Matthew Blewitt, 2006 Society of Biomaterials Undergraduate Research Award; Matthew Blewitt, 2005 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Matthew Wood, 2005 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Andrea Brock, 2004 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Kate Stuart, 2004 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Sanja Benac, 2004 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Matt Wood, 2003 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Tricia Arauz, 2003 ASME Bioengineering Undergraduate Research Competition, 1st place; Bret Kelso, 2003 ACS Local Student Research Symposium, 1st place oral competition; Bret Kelso, 2002 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Kate Stuart, 2002 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research; Tricia Arauz, 2002 SACNAS Undergraduate Research Award, Best Poster; Tricia Arauz, 2002 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Sarah Stabenfeldt, 2002 BMES Undergraduate Research Award; Sarah Stabenfeldt, 2002 MRS Tissue Engineering Poster Session, 1st place

Current Postdoctoral Fellow:: Katelyn Swindle

Current Graduate Students:: Hannah Kutosky; Shruti Sahu; Wenda Zhou

Current Undergraduate Students:: Laura Marquardt; Rebecca Scott; Ashley Hobgood; Leah Vandiver; Ankit Agarwal; Katherine Hunter; Alison Orr; Jessica Stukel

Past Students (what are they doing now?):: Jennifer Aleshire; Tricia Arauz (BME Graduate School, JHU); Shawn Awlyard, M.D.; Sanja Benac (BME Graduate School, IIT); Nicki Bergmann, Ph.D.; Todd Bauer, M.D.; Matthew Blewitt, M.S. (IIT, Architecture); Andrea Brock (Medical School, Vanderbilt); Rene Clark; Patrick Connolly (Graduate School, UPenn); Casey Cronin (Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO); Mary Dankert (UPenn, PA); Megan Francis (BME Graduate School, IIT); Pete Geisen (Ophthalmology Research Labs, UNC); Dana Hage (Public Health, SLU); Jeff Harris (ADInstruments, CO); Jocie Harris (BME Graduate School, Rutgers); Keegan Haselkorn (BME Graduate School, Minnesota); Brian Jennings; Katie Jansen (Biology Graduate School, Emory); Philip Johnson, Ph.D. (Asst. Prof., WashU); Bret Kelso (BME Graduate School, ASU); Jackie Lis (Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, MO); Jasenka Memisevic (BME Graduate School, UM Columbia); Mary Millner, M.S.; Christina Obert (Vibratome, MO); Maggie Phillips (BME Graduate School, UT Austin); Zac Rynerson; Melissa Schleeper (Medical School, SIU); Stacy Skornia, J.D.; Sonja Sokic (BME Graduate School, IIT); Sarah Stabenfeldt, Ph.D. (Postdoc, GA Tech/Emory); Kate Stuart, Ph.D. (Purdue); Jenny Sturm (Kimberly-Clark, GA); Allison Throm; Angie Throm (BME Graduate School, WPI/UMass); Susan Westerfield Foy (BioSciences Graduate School, CWRU); Kelli Wiehl, J.D.; Matt Wood, Ph.D. (Postdoc, Toronto)