| Meet the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Lih-Sheng (Tom) Turng Professor of Mechanical Engineering |
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Research area Turng’s research lies at the intersection of polymer processing and engineering and tissue engineering scaffolds. On the polymer processing and engineering side, the lab tries to develop new materials and processes, as well as new engineering tools. The goal is to produce plastic components in a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way, while facilitating recycling or upcycling of post-consumer plastic components. On the tissue engineering scaffold side, the group hopes to speed up the development and clinical trials of artificial blood vessels to treat cardiovascular diseases.
What excites you about your work?
“What excites me the most is having the privilege of working with and learning from a group of talented students, research staff and colleagues from other departments and having the freedom, flexibility, and resources to pursue something we think will make a difference and impact society. I particularly enjoy working with my colleagues and collaborators at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the Morgridge Institute for Research, and across the campus.”
What do you hope to achieve?
“We hope we can maximize the benefits of plastics while reducing their environmental impact. We would also like to speed up the delivery of artificial blood vessels to be used for bypass surgeries to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases. The urgency of finding new medical treatments for patients propels us to go to work and collaborate with our students and research partners. Hopefully, by working together, we can develop technology to improve health outcomes. We are where we are today thanks to my former and current students and staff.”
Professor Turng is a passionate researcher and inventor with innovations that will impact the world of engineered materials.
– Michael Carey, WARF, Licensing Manager
Want to learn more?
Michael Carey, [email protected], 608.960.9867