Affiliation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biological Systems Engineering

Anna Duraj-Thatte is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. She received her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, wherein she worked on protein engineering and directed evolution. Then she pursued her postdoctoral research at Wyss Institute, Harvard University. Her research focused on developing engineered living materials for various applications, including the first demonstration of therapeutic and self-regenerating functionalities of living materials. Her research interests also include protein-based materials for environmental applications and actively working towards commercialization of her research innovations. She was the Grand Prize Winner of the American National Science Foundation (NSF) Idea Machine competition.