Meet Our Newest Faculty Member

Urara Hasegawa joined the chemical engineering department as an assistant professor in January 2017. She recently answered a few questions:

Please describe your educational/industrial background.

I received my bachelor's and master's degrees in applied chemistry from Waseda University, Japan, in 2002 and 2004, respectively. I completed my doctorate degree in biomedical science from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan, in 2007. From 2007 to 2011, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Prof. Hubbell at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. In 2011, I joined Osaka University, Japan, as an assistant professor before coming to Kansas State University in 2017.

What attracted you to K-State?

I was looking for a new opportunity outside Japan to continue my research in the field of biomedical engineering, and am attracted by the environment at K-State that encourages researchers to work across discipline boundaries.

Describe your research program and your research goals.

My research program focuses on the design of polymeric nanomaterials for the delivery of drugs, with an emphasis on gaseous signal-transmitter molecules such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. These gaseous molecules regulate various signaling pathways in the human body and have the potential to act as therapeutic agents to treat pathological conditions such as cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the interesting biological activities of these molecules, their therapeutic potential has not been well explored as handling these gases is difficult. To address this issue, I will develop polymeric nanoparticle platforms, which enable controlled gas generation under physiological conditions. I will explore the therapeutic potential of these nanoparticles in different pathological conditions such as cancer. I also plan to use the micelles to study and understand the mechanisms underlying the biological actions of these gases.

What courses do you plan to teach?

Currently I am teaching CHE 520 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I, which is one of the important fundamentals for chemical engineers. In the future, I would like to develop a course relating to biomaterials science, to introduce how materials can be engineered to elicit a desired therapeutic response.

You've spent your academic career outside of the United States until now. From your first few months on the job, what are the biggest differences you've noticed between the U.S. and Japan?

I think one of the biggest differences between Japan and the USA is the culture. Japanese academia is still hierarchical and conservative, although much of Japanese social culture is now westernized. My experience so far is that everybody at K-State is friendly, helpful and approachable, and I love this open atmosphere.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like listening to music, especially classical music and bossa nova. I also play the flute and classical guitar.