Living Materials Laboratory:
News & Events
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.