Nicholas A. Kotov

Nicholas Kotov holds two named professorships at the University of Michigan: the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering and Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan. His research on biomimetic nanostructures connects him to multiple departments at the University: Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, and the Biointerfaces Institute. 

Physical Chemist by training, Kotov designs and build biomimetic nanostructures that solve specific problems in structural materials, environmental science, energy technologies, nanodrug design, tissue engineering and advanced manufacturing. Kotov's building block of choice is the nanoparticle that can self-assemble into complex structures. His lab has built materials that give us stronger armor, thinner lithium ion batteries, safer biomedical implants, more potent antimicrobial treatments, and accurate cancer diagnostic tools.

Kotov received his MS and PhD degrees in chemistry from Moscow State University, where his research concerned biomimetic liquid-liquid interfaces imitating cell membranes for solar energy conversion.