Julius B. Lucks, Ph.D.

Northwestern Engineering’s Julius B. Lucks understands the value of lab work. As a professor of chemical and biological engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering and codirector of the Center for Synthetic Biology (CSB), Lucks and his lab investigate the molecular principles that enable biological systems to sense and adapt to changing environments. They then use the principles they discover, along with the techniques of synthetic biology, to develop new diagnostic technologies to tackle big societal challenges.

But Lucks stresses the importance of thinking beyond the science: learning about the people who will use new technology and their needs.

“Technologies can be beautiful and amazing and wonderful and special in the lab, and that’s cool,” Lucks said. “A lot of us in the field of synthetic biology are doing this because we believe it will make a difference for some of the world’s biggest problems… Continue reading.

On April 5, 2023, the Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation approved the awarding of Guggenheim Fellowships to a diverse group of 171 exceptional individuals. Chosen from a rigorous application and peer review process out of almost 2,500 applicants, these successful applicants were appointed on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise. To see the full list of new Fellows, please visit www.gf.org.

“Like Emerson, I believe that fullness in life comes from following our calling,” said Edward Hirsch, President of the Guggenheim Foundation and 1985 Fellow in Poetry. “The new class of Fellows has followed their calling to enhance all of our lives, to provide greater human knowledge and deeper understanding. We’re lucky to look to them to bring us into the future… Continue reading.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the election of Julius B. Lucks, Ph.D., Associate Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University to its College of Fellows. Dr. Lucks was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the AIMBE College of Fellows for discovering RNA folding principles related to understanding and treating disease, and engineering synthetic biology diagnostics for global health.

The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers in the country. The most accomplished and distinguished engineering and medical school chairs, research directors, professors, innovators, and successful entrepreneurs comprise the College of Fellows. AIMBE Fellows are regularly recognized for their contributions in teaching, research, and innovation. AIMBE Fellows have been awarded the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Science and the Presidential Medal of Technology and Innovation, and many also are members of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences… Continue reading.