Living Materials Laboratory:
News & Events
Paper Alert!
July 16, 2026
We have a new publication in Construction and Building Materials! This study investigates bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) as a regenerative material for repairing damaged concrete. The authors demonstrate that in situ BNC repair restores flexural strength comparable to existing biomineralization methods while introducing a novel bio-taping approach in which pre-grown BNC is applied directly to cracked concrete. This simple surface treatment achieved up to 78% flexural strength recovery and enabled repeated self-healing over multiple damage cycles using only water and humid curing.
Schmidt Science Summit
July 10, 2026
Wil V. Srubar III delivered a featured presentation at the 2026 Schmidt Sciences Interdisciplinary Science Summit Showcase Evening at Duke University. As a Schmidt Sciences Polymath, Dr. Srubar discussed how the Living Materials Laboratory integrates biology, materials science, and civil engineering to develop living materials and sustainable construction technologies inspired by nature.
RILEM Earth Conference
July 7, 2026
Dr. Samuel Armistead presented two studies at the International Conference on Earthen Construction (ICEC) in Lisbon, Portugal. The presentations highlighted advances in bio-inspired 3D-printed earth and high-throughput optimization of bio-stabilized earthen materials, showcasing the lab’s continued efforts to develop sustainable construction technologies through additive manufacturing and bio-based materials.
Earthen Construction Research Featured
June 22, 2026
Research from the Living Materials Laboratory and collaborators at Columbia University was featured by CU Boulder Today for demonstrating how seaweed-derived biopolymers can improve 3D-printed earthen construction. The work combines natural materials with additive manufacturing to strengthen locally sourced earth, offering a promising pathway toward scalable, low-carbon building technologies inspired by nature.
Paper Alert!
June 17, 2026
A new publication in Resources, Conservation & Recycling introduces KL2, a statistical framework for quantifying uncertainty in whole-building life cycle assessment. Developed by Martín Torres and collaborators, the method combines kernel density estimation with the Dirichlet distribution to better capture variability in embodied carbon data without relying on arbitrary assumptions. The approach improves confidence in probabilistic building assessments and supports more informed sustainable design decisions.
EMI 2026
June 13, 2026
Members of the Living Materials Laboratory presented their latest research at the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) Conference in Boulder. Lab researchers delivered presentations spanning bio-inspired materials, living materials, and earthen construction, including the conference’s first mini-symposium dedicated to earthen materials. The meeting provided an opportunity to share new findings and connect with collaborators across the mechanics community.
Research Featured Widely
May 22, 2026
Research from the Living Materials Laboratory was featured by the University of Colorado Boulder following the publication of a new Science Advances paper on bioluminescent living materials. The article highlights the team’s development of living materials capable of producing sustained light through chemical stimulation, including a bioluminescent “Ralphie” created by embedding marine dinoflagellates in a 3D-printed alginate scaffold.
Paper Alert!
May 21, 2026
Researchers from the Living Materials Laboratory have published a new study in Science Advances demonstrating programmable, bioluminescent living materials. By embedding the marine dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula within 3D-printed alginate scaffolds, the team created living constructs that remain viable for weeks while producing sustained light in response to chemical cues. The work opens new opportunities for biosensing, soft robotics, and adaptive living materials.
Paper Alert!
May 1, 2026
A new Nature Communications publication from the Living Materials Laboratory demonstrates a bio-inspired strategy for engineering high-performance, 3D-printed earthen materials. By optimizing interactions between natural biopolymers and earth minerals, the team achieved faster printing and improved structural stability, advancing scalable, low-carbon construction using locally sourced materials. The work was completed in collaboration with researchers at Columbia University.
DLA Symposium
April 29, 2026
Congratulations to Conall Soon, Jadyn Anderson, and Simon Cox for representing the Living Materials Laboratory at CU Boulder’s Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Symposium. Through the DLA program, these undergraduate researchers made meaningful contributions to ongoing lab projects while balancing demanding coursework. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and dedication to research.
Dr. Martín Torres
April 16, 2026
The Living Materials Laboratory congratulates Martín Torres on successfully defending his PhD in Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. His dissertation developed new statistical methods for quantifying uncertainty in whole-building life cycle assessments, advancing the accuracy of embodied carbon analyses. Martín has since joined UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment as a postdoctoral researcher.
Paper Alert!
April 15, 2026
Researchers from the Living Materials Laboratory have published new work in Bioresource Technology investigating how environmental conditions influence growth and calcification in the marine coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa huxleyi. By scaling cultivation from laboratory flasks to a 100-liter photobioreactor, the team identified strategies to improve biogenic calcium carbonate production, supporting future applications in sustainable cement and other low-carbon materials.
Sustainability Research Initiative Fellow
March 28, 2026
Congratulations to Wil V. Srubar III on being named one of the inaugural Sustainability Research Initiative Research Fellows at CU Boulder. The fellowship brings together researchers from across campus to advance interdisciplinary solutions to pressing sustainability challenges. The recognition reflects Dr. Srubar’s leadership in developing bio-inspired materials for a more sustainable built environment.
Early Engineering Fair
March 6, 2026
The Living Materials Laboratory participated in CU Boulder’s annual Early Engineering Exposure Fair, introducing middle- and high-school students to sustainable materials research. Visitors explored 3D-printed earthen structures, learned about bio-inspired construction, and experienced bioluminescent living materials firsthand. The event highlighted the lab’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists through hands-on outreach.
Holiday Party
December 10, 2025
The Living Materials Laboratory celebrated another successful year with its annual holiday gathering in Boulder. Students, staff, and faculty reflected on a year of publications, graduations, collaborations, and research milestones before closing the evening with the lab’s traditional white elephant gift exchange. We look forward to another year of discovery and innovation.
Paper Alert!
October 3, 2025
Researchers from the Living Materials Laboratory have published new work in Composites Part B: Engineering demonstrating underwater 3D printing of bio-stabilized earthen materials. Using locust bean gum as a natural stabilizer, the team improved the printability and washout resistance of clay-rich mixtures, expanding the potential for sustainable additive manufacturing in challenging environments. Congratulations to Samuel Armistead, Rebecca Mikofsky, Wil V. Srubar III, and their collaborators on this publication.
CU Materials Symposium
August 15, 2025
Living Materials Laboratory members presented their work at the University of Colorado Boulder Materials Science & Engineering Graduate Program annual symposium. Jessica McKean and Joy Edwin-Ezeh shared research through poster presentations, engaging with students, faculty, and researchers from across the Mountain West. The symposium provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and highlight ongoing advances in sustainable materials research.
Paper Alert!
July 17, 2025
Paper alert! LML members have a new publication in Applied Clay Science delving into the effects of mineral additions on the wet- and hardened-state properties of geopolymer cements. The work explores the capacity of the mixture’s Si:Al to regulate it setting time, and determined that the addition of brucite to these materials increased its resistance to acidic conditions while maintaining high strength.
LML in Belgium
July 10, 2025
The LML was well represented at the 6th International Conference on Structures and Architecture in Antwerp last week. Both Jonathan and Martín presented their work on embodied carbon in the built environment.
Paper alert!
July 9, 2025
A new Building and Environment publication led by Martín Torres introduces improved methods for quantifying uncertainty in embodied carbon assessments. By better capturing variability in environmental product declarations, the framework produces more realistic whole-building life cycle assessments and supports more informed design decisions. Congratulations to Martín Torres on his first first-author publication and to Wil V. Srubar III on this important contribution to sustainable building research.
ACerS week!
June 21, 2025
The lab played host to the 15th Annual Cements Division Meeting organized by the American Ceramics Society. It was a tremendous success, with many LML members presenting and many others assisted behind the scenes. We thank all the attendees for visiting us and hope to see many of them again next year in Miami!
Structures Congress 2025
April 25, 2025
The LML was well represented at the ASCE Structures Congress 2025 event in Phoenix, Arizona last week. Both Jonathan and Martín presented their work on embodied carbon in the built environment. Congratulations to both on being awarded SEI Futures Fund scholarships to support their excellent presentations.
Joy 2nd-place Poster
April 24, 2025
Joy Edwin-Ezeh attended and presented at the 2025 Air Quality Buffs Symposium last week organized through the Environmental Engineering Program. Her poster, ‘Natural lichens as passive biofilters for improving indoor environmental quality’ won second-place in the poster competition. Congratulations, Joy!!
Paper Alert!
April 22, 2025
Paper alert! Lab members Caitlin J. Adams, Wil V. Srubar III, PhD and LML alum have a new publication in Materials And Structures exploring the salt-scaling resistance of concrete. The team demonstrated that PEG-PVA biomimetic antifreeze polymers, traditionally used to provide freeze-thaw protection, also protect concrete from salt damage. Different water-to-cement and polymer-to-cement ratios were explored to optimize for the addition of PEG-PVA.
Paper Alert!
April 11, 2025
We are thrilled to share our recent publication in Matter, where we delve into the innovative use of photosynthesized coccoliths from Emiliania huxleyi as a potential calcium carbonate source in the cement industry. Our findings reveal that coccoliths not only enhance early-age strength without compromising long-term performance but also offer a promising avenue for reducing carbon footprint in cement production. Congratulations to authors Danielle Beatty and Wil V. Srubar III, PhD on their terrific work.
Wil in C&EN
February 20, 2025
The LML is always excited to have its work cemented in print! Dr. Srubar was recently featured in an article by C&EN this week, discussing the lab’s work on living building materials, the commercialization process, and other projects we’re involved in. Plus, there’s mention of the lab’s mascot, Cooper the Labrador!
Living Optical Materials
January 21, 2025
Our team is proud to have contributed to exciting research recently published in PNAS. Inspired by the way sea sponges grow glass-like silica shells, our collaborators engineered microbes to form bioglass microlenses. In Boulder, Cansu Acarturk and Jie Ren analyzed and quantified the silica surrounding these engineered bacteria, confirming their ability to create microlenses with impressive light-focusing properties. This innovation opens doors for advanced biomedical imaging, nanoscale materials analysis, and improved pathogen diagnostics! Congratulations to all who worked on this endeavour.
Congratulations, Brooklyn!
December 16, 2024
Brooklyn Lash won two prestigious college awards this semester, including one that demonstrates excellence in research. Congratulations, and thanks to Cansu for her mentorship during Brooklyn’s tenure with the LML!
Paper Alert!
December 13, 2024
Excited to share recent research published in npj Materials Sustainability on leveraging living diatoms to produce sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). This study demonstrates how biosilica derived from diatoms like Thalassiosira pseudonana can serve as a high-performing, eco-friendly alternative to traditional SCMs like fly ash and slag.
Caitlin at MRS
December 6, 2024
Caitlin presented her work on the effects of MICP on concrete at the MRS fall meeting this week. Congratulations on an excellent talk!
Paper Alert!
November 21, 2024
LML Personnel recently published their work developing a theoretical benchmark of embodied carbon emissions for US residential buildings.
Paper Alert!
September 4, 2024
Dr. Srubar co-authored a recent piece in Matter about the future of Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) and addresses barriers to their implementation. These findings are base on findings from the ELM workshop hosted by the Center for Biofilm Engineering.
LML at ACS
August 28, 2024
The LML was well-represented this week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Denver. Well done to those who presented talks and posters, and a special congratulations to Bex, who WON the poster competition in the Materials Science division.
LML Turns 10!
August 24, 2024
This month, the Living Materials Lab celebrated its 10-year anniversary! Alumni from across the country joined to present on the past, present, and future of the laboratory, including some new developments we’re excited to share soon!
Paper Alert!
July 30, 2024
Matt, Sarah, Jay, and Dr. Srubar published a paper this month on the carbon emissions associated with different concrete mixtures. Read more about it in Resouces, Conservation, and Recycling.
Sam in Edinburgh
July 15, 2024
Last week Sam attended and presented at the 2nd International Conderence on Earthen Construction. He presented on his work on biopolymer-stabilized earth-based materials.
LML in Rolla, MO
June 23, 2024
The lab was well represented this week in Rolla, Missouri, at the 14th Advances in Cement-Based Materials Meeting organized by the American Ceramics Society. Seven lab personnel attended and shared updates on their research.
Paper Alert!
May 30, 2024
Cansu, Matt, Martín, Brooklyn, and Dr. Srubar published a new paper on the applicability of algal biomass in CSA cements. Read more about it in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering.
Congratulation, Bex
April 7, 2024
Bex won second place at the 2024 Advances in Cement-Based Materials meeting. Congratulations!
Martín in Bath
March 8, 2024
Martín is enjoying his six-month position as a visiting researcher at the University of Bath. Supported by the Temple Hoyne Buell Endowed Ambassadorial Scholarship, he is tackling uncertainty when predicting the carbon footprint of construction products and buildings.