Professional Background
Professor Shikha Nangia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry (Honors) from Hindu College, University of Delhi, India, in 1998, and her Master’s degree from Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi (IITD), India, in 2000. She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in 2006 and completed her postdoctoral training (2006-2009) at Pennsylvania State University. In 2009, she joined Syracuse University as a Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering. She started her independent research career as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in 2012. In 2023, Dr. Nangia was promoted to the rank of Professor.
Research and Publications
Dr. Nangia’s current research focuses on developing computational approaches to examine molecular and structural biophysics. Her primary project is to explore treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases by examining the molecular architecture of the blood-brain barrier. Her work also includes multiscale modeling of integral membrane proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, protein hydropathy, lipid membranes, bacterial membranes, epigenetics, drug delivery, thermo-responsive biopolymers, and polymeric gels. Her work is a highly multidisciplinary research portfolio that interfaces with computer science, math, engineering, biology, chemistry, and medicine. She has multiple collaborations with experimental bioengineers, chemists, and physicists worldwide. Nangia has published as a leading author in various journals, including Biomacromolecules, Macromolecules, JACS, JBC, PLoS Pathogens, Soft Matter, etc. She is also an artist and has designed artistic renditions of her scientific discoveries featured on the cover of several journals (Biomacromolecules, Langmuir, JCTC, JPC, and ChemComm). She is currently an Associate Editor of ACS Applied Bio Materials.
Grants and Awards
Dr. Nangia’s research has received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). These awards include NSF CAREER (2015), NIH R21 (2015), NSF CBET (2017), NIH R01 (2019), NSF BMAT (2021), NSF DMR REU (2018 and 2021), NSF MCB (2022), NIH NIBIB ESTEEMED grant (2022), and NSF GCR (2022). Dr. Nangia has also received numerous honors for her research, including the ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2016) and ACS WCC Rising Star Award (2022).
Teaching and Mentoring
Nangia was awarded the College Technology Educator of the Year (2016), Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (2017), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (2017), and the Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience and University Initiatives (2019) at Syracuse University. She is currently the director of the NSF Interactive Biomaterials REU site and NIH ESTEEMED programs.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Nangia research group welcomes all students regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, economic background, disability, or training. Our group’s mission is to facilitate learning and growth through a collaborative, inclusive, and nurturing environment. We believe that solving scientific problems requires different perspectives, which a diverse group provides.