Staff
Hua Wang grew up in China and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Polymer Science and Engineering there, before moving to the US for graduate studies. He has a Chemistry and Materials background by training, but his research has shifted to more and more biology over the years. Hua joined UIUC as a faculty in August 2020, and his lab has been working on biomaterials, cell engineering, and immunotherapy. Within and beyond the research community, he is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and collaborative environment. In his leisure time, Hua likes photography, watching sports, and hiking.
Antonia Statt is from Germany, but her academic career brought her to many places in Europe and finally to the US, where she joined the University of Illinois in 2019. Her research is completely computational, focusing on the fundamental understanding of soft and squishy materials, with applications for energy and medicine. Like Cecilia, she is passionate about making science and the scientific community accessible and welcoming for everyone. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her partner, cat, and dog. She likes all types of arts and crafts, like painting, block-printing, and stained glass. Antonia’s professional biography.
Marie Charpagne joined MatSE as an assistant professor in August 2021. She grew up in France where she was a first-generation student and moved to the U.S. after completing her graduate studies. At UIUC, she specializes in designing and 3D-printing metallic alloys that are strong, resilient, and sustainable. Aside of science, Marie enjoys creative activities such as watercolor painting, playing piano, and growing flowers and vegetables together in eclectic gardens.
Founder
Cecilia Leal grew up in Portugal in a rural town but her appreciation for learning and science brought her to Sweden, Norway, and finally to the US to pursue an academic career. Cecilia has been a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger College of Engineering since 2012. She is interested in materials for medicine as well as materials inspired by nature. Cecilia is passionate about fostering a diverse and inclusive scientific community. She likes to spend time with her two kids and husband, hang out with friends, and ride her bike to work. Cecilia’s professional biography.