Matthew Webber
Keating-Crawford Collegiate Professor of Engineering; Acting Director, Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health; Concurrent Professor
- Office
- 105F McCourtney Hall - West
Notre Dame, IN 46556 - mwebber@nd.edu
Research Areas
- Biochemistry
Research Specialties
- Materials
- Medicine
Prospective Graduate Students
Biography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2025-present | Keating-Crawford Collegiate Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame |
| 2017-present | Concurrent Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame |
| 2022-2025 | Keating-Crawford Collegiate Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame |
| 2021-2022 | Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame |
| 2016-2021 | Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame |
| 2012-2016 | NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Koch Institute, MIT |
| 2011 | Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University |
| 2009 | M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University |
| 2006 | B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame |
Selected Awards
2023 Owens-Corning Award, Materials Engineering & Science Division, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
2023 Elected to College of Fellows, American Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering
2022 ACS-PMSE Elected Member-at-Large
2020 NSF CAREER Award
2020 ACS-PMSE Young Investigator Award
2019 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award
2013 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
Research Interests
Using principles based in supramolecular chemistry – that is, “chemistry beyond the molecule” – the Webber Lab is interested in exploiting specific, dynamic interactions between molecules to facilitate improved therapeutics. With this design inspiration, we are modulating the association and self-assembly of oligopeptides in order to create tailored and dynamic matrices for applications in regenerative medicine. We are also using specific, high affinity host-guest macrocycle chemistry to enable precise targeting and transport of drugs and therapeutic agents. Finally, we are generating new classes of recombinant materials using protein-derived affinity motifs to promote three-dimensional structures. In sum, our work aims to leverage the engineering of supramolecular motifs to improve the practice of medicine.
Selected Publications
- Liu, D. P.; Zou, L.; Fan, B. W.; Chi, T.; Gates, B. D.; Su, B. and Webber, M. J. "Metabolic Glycoengineering of Synthetic "Membrane Receptors" Via Supramolecular Host-Guest Recognition" 2026 Bioconjugate Chemistry, 37 (4), pp.693–698. DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6c00076.
- Dewolf, E. L.; Webber, B. and Webber, M. J. "Molecular Engineering of Designer Diabetes Therapeutics" 2026 Journal of Controlled Release, 392, 114705. DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2026.114705.
- DeWolf, E. L.; Chen, W. K.; Webber, B.; Power, E. M.; Kilmer, R.; Kadu, P.; Xian, S. J. and Webber, M. J. "Engineering a Glucose-Responsive Glucagon Prodrug through Arginine-Phenylboronic Acid Pendant Modification" 2026 Small Science, 6 (3), e202500555. DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202500555.
- Ning, F. D.; Wang, K. H.; Zhang, Y. Y.; Zhao, Y.; Dong, L. T.; Webber, M. J.; Zou, L. and Zhang, Y. J. "Slide-Ring Hydrogel Networks Via Host-Guest Complexation with Cucurbit[8]Uril" 2025 Macromolecules, 58 (23), pp.12502–12513. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5c02551.
- Trowbridge, A. J.; Huldin, G. F.; Pyo, M.; Jordan, K. M.; Rincon, M. A.; Kim, T.; Webber, M. J.; Gao, H. F.; Park, C. H. and Fu, K. X. "Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes Inside Nanoporous Gold Electrodes Enable Fouling-Resistant Electrochemical Biosensing" 2025 ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 7 (22), pp.15241–15254. DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.5c02297.
- Su, B.; Liu, D. P.; Chi, T.; Fan, B. W.; Wang, K. X.; Xian, S. J.; Ye, Z. and Webber, M. J. "Programmable Host-Guest Recognition for Shape-Shifting Supramolecular Nanostructure States" 2025 ACS Nano, 19 (25), pp.23133–23141. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c04357.