Kibret Mequanint
Contact
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Thompson Engineering Building,
Room TEB 439
Western University
Tel: 519-661-2111 ext. 88573
Fax: 519-661-3498
kmequani@uwo.ca
Kibret Mequanint
Professor - Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering
PhD - University of Stellenbosch (2001)
PDF - Technical University of Darmstadt (2002)
PDF - McMaster University (2003)
Dr. Kibret Mequanint (FEAS, FEAI, FBSE, FCAE, FAIMBE) is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University. His research is in the fields of Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine interfacing polymer science, materials and chemical engineering, and life sciences. Over the past 20 years, his work spanned both fundamental understandings and translational research in cell-material interactions, the design of novel polymer biomaterials for medical devices, and therapeutic radiation dosimeters. Some of his technologies are licensed to companies.
Dr. Mequanint is both a dedicated teacher and a leading scholar - winning major teaching and research awards. He has served or is serving as Co-chair or as a Member of the review panels for NSERC Discovery Grant, NSERC Discovery Horizon, CIHR, SSRC, NFRF (both for Exploration and Transformation Streams), HSFC, and CBRF-BRIF. Dr. Mequanint is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is a member of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and the Canadian Biomaterials Society (CBS). He served as Associate Chair (Undergraduate) (2008-2014), Acting Department Chair (2014-2015), and Graduate Chair (2015-2016). He also served at the University Senate (2013-2017) and at the University Board of Governors (2016-2020).
Selected Awards and Distinctions
- Elected to the College of Fellows of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2024.
- Elected to the College of Fellows, European Alliance for Innovation, 2023
- Inducted to the College of Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, 2022.
- Engineering Medal (Research and Development), PEO, 2022.
- Convocation (Commencement) Speaker, Western's 319th Convocation Ceremony, July 7, 2022.
- Inducted to the College of Fellows of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, 2022.
- Inducted to the College of Fellows, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, 2018
- Engineering Award of Excellence in Research, University of Western Ontario, 2017
- Mending Broken Hearts. Growing blood Vessels in a lab is no longer science fiction. (Profiled by Heart and Stroke Foundation). Impact Update Spring Edition (2016)
- Award of Recognition, The University of Western Ontario, 2016
- Edward G Pleva Excellence in Teaching Award. University of Western Ontario, 2015
- Faculty Scholar Award. University of Western Ontario, 2014
- Bikila Professional Excellence Award. 2014
- R. Mohan Mathur Award for Excellence in Teaching, Western Engineering, 2011
- Early Researcher Award. Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, 2007
- Forschungszentrum Jülich Fellowship at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2001-2002
- DAAD Fellowship, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2000
Selected Professional Activities
- 2019-2022 CBS President-Elect, President, and Past-President
- 2014: Guest Editor, Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
- 2011- Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
- 2012 - Academic Editor - BioMed Research International
- 2014- NSERC Discovery Grant Evaluation Group (Member and Co-chair for Materials and Chemical Engineering)
- 2010- Session Organizer and Chair for multiple Biomaterials conferences
- 2014- Professor
- 2015-2016: Professor & Graduate Chair
- 2014-2015: Professor & Acting Chair
- 2009-2014: Associate Professor & Associate Chair
- 2003-2009: Assistant Professor