Bret Ulery, Ph.D.

Bret earned his BS in biochemistry and BSe in chemical engineering from the University of Iowa in 2006 and his PhD in chemical engineering with a graduate minor in immunobiology from Iowa State University in 2010. As an undergraduate, Bret conducted research in a number of laboratories in a variety of departments including biochemistry, radiology, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. As a senior, he worked with Professor Allan Guymon and Dr. Jason Clapper synthesizing biodegradable polymeric shunts to treat eye diseases, igniting a passion for biomaterials-based research. As a graduate student at Iowa State University, Bret worked for Professor Balaji Narasimhan creating polyanhydride nanoparticles for use as single-dose intranasal vaccine delivery vehicles. After earning his PhD, Bret spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow under the advisement of Professor Cato Laurencin at the University of Connecticut Health Center conducting localized anesthetic delivery and musculoskeletal regenerative engineering research.

Bret joined the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering in 2012 as a postdoctoral scholar working with Professor Matthew Tirrell. His research focuses on the immunotherapy applications of peptide amphiphile micelle technology. Bret's long-term interests include the design of novel biomodulatory materials to improve health care technologies.