RL
Unit: School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department: Department of Chemical Engineering
Office location and address
Wilsdorf Hall, 310B
385 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville,
Virginia
22903
Education
B.S. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2010
M.S. Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2012
Ph.D. Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2016
Post-Doc Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 2016-2018
M.S. Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2012
Ph.D. Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2016
Post-Doc Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 2016-2018
Biography
Rachel A. Letteri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. After obtaining a B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, she completed a Ph.D. in Polymer Science & Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst under the direction of Professors Todd Emrick and Ryan Hayward. From 2016-2018, she conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Karen Wooley in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. Her research interests include materials involving functional polymers, peptides, and interfacial assemblies with applications in medicine and engineering, among others. Rachel also enjoys sharing science and engineering with others through education and outreach.
Publications
Sponsored Awards
CAREER: Peptide stereocomplexes as dynamic junctions in polymeric biomaterials
Source: U.S. NSF - Directorate Math. & Physical Sciences
June 01, 2022 – May 31, 2027
Testing Scalability of a Novel Drug Delivery Platform for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Radiation Damage
Source: The Tiny Cargo Company
April 01, 2022 – March 31, 2023
Development of the MadiDrop+Cu+Chloramine: A disruptive point-of-use water treatment technology
Source: Silivhere Technologies, Inc.
December 01, 2021 – November 30, 2022
Precision Medicine Exosomal Drug Delivery Medtech for Heart Attack
Source: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universit
June 17, 2019 – December 16, 2020
Courses
Credits: 3
Introduces the field of chemical engineering, including material and energy balances applied to chemical processes, physical and thermodynamic properties of multi-component systems. Three lecture and one discussion hour. Prerequisite: CHEM 1610, APMA 1110.
Credits: 3
Quantitative engineering aspects of industrial applications of biology including the microbial synthesis of commercial products, environmental biotechnology, and the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals through recombinant microorganisms, transgenic animals, and plants. Three lecture hours. Prerequisite: CHE 2246, CHE 3321, or instructor permission; corequisite: CHE 3318, 3322 or instructor permission.
Credits: 1–3
Library and laboratory study of an engineering or manufacturing problem conducted in close consultation with a departmental faculty member, often including the design, construction, and operation of laboratory scale equipment. Requires progress reports and a comprehensive written report. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Credits: 3
Introduction to properties, production, and use of biological molecules of importance to medicine and industry, such as proteins, enzymes, and antibiotics. Topics may include fermentation and cell culture processes, biological mass transfer, enzyme engineering, and implications of recent advances in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Credits: 3
Special Topics in CHE
Credits: 1
Weekly meetings of graduate students and faculty for presentations and discussion of research in academic and industrial organizations. May be repeated.
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to project research for Master of Engineering degree under the guidance of a faculty advisor. May be repeated as necessary.
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to master's thesis research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary.
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to doctoral research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary.
Honors
Selected to the inaugural ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Early Career Editorial Advisory Board, 2018