Andrea Carlini

Biography

Andrea completed her B.S. in Chemistry (2012) and B.S. in Biological Sciences (2012) at Virginia Tech. She continued to pursue both an M.S. (2014) and Ph.D. (2018) in Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California San Diego under the guidance of Prof. Nathan C. Gianneschi. Her doctoral thesis work on “Dynamic Biosynthetic Polymers for Myocardial Tissue Engineering” was supported by an NSF GRFP Fellowship. In 2019, she joined Prof. John A. Rogers’ research group as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB). Her research involved the development of wearable thermal flow sensors, conductive elastomers, and microfluidic devices. Andrea joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Materials in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California Santa Barbara in 2022.

Research

The Carlini Group focuses on breaking down barriers between endogenous biochemical signals and exogenous soft materials for the fabrication of smart devices. We aim to revisit biomedical problems that remain shockingly unsolved, by integrating structurally dynamic chemistries and biomaterials into autonomous sense-response-feedback platforms. Our interdisciplinary work can be broken down into three research areas:

1. Synthesis of stimuli-responsive moieties and macromonomers for sensing and response to endogenous signals in disease and injury.
2. Control of shape-changing peptides and polymers at the molecular, macromolecular, and/or higher order level. Notably, introduction of 4D behavior into previously inert materials.
3. Fabrication of soft, flexible platforms that provide quantitative feedback for disease surveillance and treatment.

Ultimately, we envision that continuous, non-invasive, and local assessment of disease progression and therapeutic treatments can mitigate the need for costly doctors’ visits. As a part of the UC Santa Barbara community, this interdisciplinary program engages creative, collaborative, and open-minded research throughout the campus.

Mentoring Priorities

"I adopt a student-centered mentorship approach tailored to each mentee’s preferences for investigative learning. In the Carlini Lab, I implement team systems on most projects, where each graduate student or postdoctoral fellow serves as a clear leader on one project while contributing collaboratively to others. Additionally, senior personnel are strongly encouraged to mentor less-experienced trainees. I support my trainees through regular subgroup meetings and one-on-one reviews of their individual development plans. These sessions guide students in planning and reporting on their academic skills, research progress, professional development, leadership activities, and outreach engagement, preparing them for their career goals."