Marley Dewey
PhD expected 2021
Materials Science and Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introducing another finalist in the SWE Graduate Rapid Fire Competition at WE19, Marley Dewey! Marley is also a recipient of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, a finalist for the School of Chemical Sciences Image Research Award, and a recipient of the Dow Chemical Soft Materials Presentation Silver Award.
Marley’s research aims to modify mineralized collagen scaffolds to better repair bone in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) defects. CMF defects are large missing portions of bone in the skull or jaw, and the bone in these defects cannot regenerate on its own. Marley uses mineralized collagen scaffolds (comprising the natural components of bone) to regenerate the bone in these defects. Specifically, her research involves adding shape-fitting reinforcements to these scaffolds and immunomodulatory materials such as the amniotic membrane in order to improve the bone regenerative potential. She adds shape-fitting through various 3D printed designs, which can minimize the micro-motion of the implant and minimize the inhibition of bone regeneration due to implant motion. The amniotic membrane has immunomodulatory properties and she investigates adding this to our scaffolds in order to guide the immune response to repair and avoid persistent inflammation.
After graduation, Marley sees herself working in the R&D field in either industry or in a government agency to improve healthcare and the lives of people across the world. She also swims competitively on the Illini Swim Club at UIUC, enjoys hiking, and paints or sketches in her free time.
Fun fact: She has been swimming competitively for 15 years!
Instagram: @marley.dewey
PhD expected 2021
Materials Science and Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introducing another finalist in the SWE Graduate Rapid Fire Competition at WE19, Marley Dewey! Marley is also a recipient of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, a finalist for the School of Chemical Sciences Image Research Award, and a recipient of the Dow Chemical Soft Materials Presentation Silver Award.
Marley’s research aims to modify mineralized collagen scaffolds to better repair bone in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) defects. CMF defects are large missing portions of bone in the skull or jaw, and the bone in these defects cannot regenerate on its own. Marley uses mineralized collagen scaffolds (comprising the natural components of bone) to regenerate the bone in these defects. Specifically, her research involves adding shape-fitting reinforcements to these scaffolds and immunomodulatory materials such as the amniotic membrane in order to improve the bone regenerative potential. She adds shape-fitting through various 3D printed designs, which can minimize the micro-motion of the implant and minimize the inhibition of bone regeneration due to implant motion. The amniotic membrane has immunomodulatory properties and she investigates adding this to our scaffolds in order to guide the immune response to repair and avoid persistent inflammation.
After graduation, Marley sees herself working in the R&D field in either industry or in a government agency to improve healthcare and the lives of people across the world. She also swims competitively on the Illini Swim Club at UIUC, enjoys hiking, and paints or sketches in her free time.
Fun fact: She has been swimming competitively for 15 years!
Instagram: @marley.dewey
