Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Shikha Nangia has been named the permanent Department Chair of BMCE in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. She has served as the Interim Department Chair of BMCE since August 1, 2024, and her first term as Department Chair will run through summer 2028.
Nangia joined Syracuse University in 2012 and has since established herself as a leading expert in computational modeling, with a focus on overcoming biological barriers. Her groundbreaking research addresses critical challenges in treating complex diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as investigating gut tight junctions, implantable device-related infections, and epigenetics. A significant aspect of her work involves studying the architecture of the blood-brain barrier to develop innovative strategies for enhancing the delivery of drug molecules into the brain.
Nangia has authored numerous high-impact publications in leading scientific journals and serves as an Associate Editor for ACS Applied Bio Materials. She was a recipient of the NSF Career Award in 2015 and has received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has also received numerous honors for her research, including the ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2016) and the ACS WCC Rising Star Award (2022).
Since 2012, Nangia has mentored approximately 110 students at various stages of their academic journeys, including postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, undergraduates, and high school students. Her dedication to teaching and mentoring has earned her numerous prestigious awards, such as the College Technology Educator of the Year (2016), the Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (2017), the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (2017), the Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience and University Initiatives (2019), and the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award (2022).
Currently, she serves as the faculty co-director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program and leads several impactful initiatives, including the NSF Interactive Biomaterials REU site and the NIH ESTEEMED program, which focuses on undergraduate research training.
“Shikha Nangia’s exceptional research contributions and mentorship are a testament to her capabilities as a leader in her field. I’m confident that she will continue to advance our college’s research initiatives in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering,” says Dean J. Cole Smith.
“I am deeply honored to lead this remarkable department, built on a strong foundation of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Together, we will push the boundaries of engineering, fostering a culture that values diversity, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge,” says Nangia. “Our mission is to educate the next generation of biomedical and chemical engineers and to pioneer research that addresses today’s challenges while shaping a better tomorrow. I am committed to empowering our faculty, staff, and students by creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, and every idea has the potential to thrive.”