Jeremy Marston received a 2020 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Research Award.
In February, the Texas Tech University System announced its 2020 Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards to honor outstanding faculty members who provide exceptional opportunities for students both in and out of the classroom. We are highlighting the seven Texas Tech University faculty members who were recognized. This is the fourth in this series.
Jeremy Marston, an assistant professor of chemical engineering in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, uses high-speed imaging to study fluids as they travel through granular materials. His research has uncovered biomedical applications, including innovative drug-delivery methods such as needle-free injections and eye drops. He has received industrial funding from Inovio Pharmaceuticals and the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER Award. His research has been published in almost 60 publications.
Prior to joining the College of Engineering, Marston worked as a research fellow at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Science in Singapore and a research scientist at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.
On Feb. 5, Marston received a 2020 Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award.
Can you describe your research and its impact, both in academics and society?
We are working on understanding the fundamental flow physics of needle-free injection.
If we can better understand the fluid flow, we can help design injectors that can
be used for specific vaccines and target-specific tissues. This could have significant
impact on outcomes in clinical trials and drug delivery in general.
What projects are you working on at this time?
I'm currently working on three projects: industry collaboration with Inovio Pharmaceuticals
on jet injectors; development of novel ultra-low-dose injectors; and fluid dynamic
of ophthalmic drug delivery (i.e. drugs delivered to the front of the eyeball).
What areas are you interested in for future research?
Developing novel drug injection methods and developing new imaging capabilities for
ex-vivo and in-vivo drug delivery research.
What rewards do you get from teaching?
I enjoy both mentoring students in the lab, as well as teaching in the classroom.
Seeing students grasp concepts and applying them is a satisfying aspect of this job.
What motivated you to pursue a career in academia?
The freedom to explore areas that interest me and teaching!
How has Texas Tech helped you advance your research and teaching?
As an assistant professor, the low teaching loads have helped boost my research productivity
and allowed me time to develop ideas in the lab. Texas Tech has a lot of support mechanisms
and opportunities for teaching development through the Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development Center (TLPDC).
Who has had the biggest impact on you and your career, and why?
My family: my wife has been incredibly supportive throughout, and has moved across
three continents for me to pursue my career. My children also help keep me focused
and productive while I'm at work!
