Yupeng Chen

Associate Professor

Biomedical Engineering

EDUCATION

Ph.D. (Nanomaterials) Brown University
MS (Biomedical Engineering) Brown University
BS (Chemistry) Fudan University

Biography

Dr. Yupeng Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Holding both an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and chemistry from Brown University, Dr. Chen’s long-term research interest lies in the design and development of DNA-inspired Janus base nanomaterials for tissue regeneration and drug and gene delivery. He holds 10 US patents and 14 international patents in Janus base nanotechnology, some of which have been successfully licensed to industry partners. Dr. Chen has authored one book, nine book chapters, and 63 peer-reviewed publications, and he and his lab have delivered 107 conference presentations and invited talks. His achievements have been recognized with the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from NSF, the discovery award from DOD, and the grand prize in the New Investigator Recognition Awards from the Orthopaedic Research Society—where he was the top winner among 545 international candidates. Elected as a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his efforts to translate scientific breakthroughs into practical applications, Dr. Chen also actively participates in peer review, serving on multiple NIH and NSF panels and contributing to the review and editorial process for 31 journals. He has secured numerous competitive federal research grants from agencies such as NIH, NSF, NASA, DOD, and CASIS. Recently, Dr. Chen has expanded the scope of regenerative engineering research from Earth to space, having received funding to develop and assess Janus base nanomaterials on the International Space Station (ISS) for innovative in-space tissue engineering, biofabrication, and biotherapeutics.

Classes taught by Professor Yupeng Chen

BME 3420/6086, Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine
BME 3900, Junior Design
BME 4170/6170, Nanomedicine: From Concepts to Applications

BME 4910W, Biomedical Engineering Design

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation.
• Discovery Award, Department of Defense.
• Senior Member, National Academy of Inventors.
• New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA), Orthopaedic Research Society, San Antonio. (The top-one prize winner among 10 awardees selected from 40 finalists out of 545 applicants all over the world.)