Biography

Joanna Aizenberg, is an Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science; Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Radcliffe Professor and the Director of the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology at Harvard University. She pursues a broad range of research interests that include biomimetics, self-assembly, smart materials, crystal engineering, surface chemistry, nanofabrication, biomineralization, biomechanics and biooptics. She received the B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1981, the M.S. degree in Physical Chemistry in 1984 from Moscow State University, and the Ph.D. degree in Structural Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1996.
Prior to her appointment at Harvard,  Dr. Aizenberg was at Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies. She made several pioneering contributions, including the development of new biomimetic approaches for the synthesis of ordered mineral films with highly controlled shapes and orientations; and the discovery of unique optical systems formed by organisms (microlenses and optical fibers) that outshine their technological analogs.  Currently she has extended her program to developing new, adaptive materials that respond to their environment. 
Dr. Aizenberg is a AAAS Fellow; she has served at the Board of Directors of the Materials Research Society and at the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. She is serving on the Advisory Board of Langmuir and Chemistry of Materials.  She has received numerous awards including  the Distinguished Kavli Award in Nanoscience (MRS 2009), the Ronald Breslow Award for the Achievement in Biomimetic Chemistry (ACS 2008) and the Industrial Innovation Award (ACS 2007).  Dr Aizenberg is an advocate for science as an unlimited source of art and her work has appeared on many art and design exhibits, journal and book covers.