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Mona Minkara
Tenure-Track Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University
Dr. Mona Minkara is an accomplished scientist and educator serving as a Tenure-Track Professor of Bioengineering and Affiliated Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University College of Engineering.1 Her academic journey and professional achievements are notable, especially considering her visual impairment.
Background and Education
Dr. Minkara grew up with macular degeneration and cone-rod dystrophy, which affected her vision. Despite these challenges, she pursued a path of academic excellence.1 She completed her undergraduate studies at Wellesley College, where she double-majored in Middle Eastern Studies and Chemistry.1 Dr. Minkara then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Florida.1
Research and Expertise
Dr. Minkara's research focuses on using computer simulations to understand chemical interactions at the air-water interface inside the lungs.1 Her work aims to engineer improved treatments and methods of drug delivery. She is particularly interested in:
- Pioneering computational models to reveal molecular insights of surfactant proteins at interfaces
- Driving advanced drug delivery by engineering synthetic pulmonary surfactants
- Studying interfacial properties of surfactants, water surface tension, and supercritical fluids using computational methods1
Professional Experience
Before joining Northeastern University in August 2019, Dr. Minkara held the following positions:
- Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Minnesota (June 2015 - June 2019)
- Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Florida (August 2010 - June 2015)
- Research Assistant at Wellesley College (June 2009 - August 2010)1
Advocacy and Impact
Dr. Minkara is not only focused on her research but also on creating opportunities for future blind scientists. She advocates for diverse perspectives in the scientific community and is committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists.1 Her efforts in this area include:
- Giving speeches at important events, such as the United Nations, about the need for visually impaired people in the field of science2
- Involvement with Chemists with Disabilities (CWD), a committee of the American Chemical Society3
Recent Achievements
In June 2024, Dr. Minkara was honored with the NSF CAREER Award for her project "Decoding the Code of Glycan-Collectin Interactions," further recognizing her contributions to the field of bioengineering.4
