Cole DeForest , Weyerhaeuser Endowed Professor and associate chair for graduate studies in chemical engineering, has been appointed Director of Education at the Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute (MolES). DeForest succeeds Alshakim Nelson , NIST Faculty Fellow and professor of chemistry. DeForest will lead the Molecular Engineering (MolE) Ph.D. Program , an interdisciplinary graduate program housed in the UW Graduate School and administered by the Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute. He will direct the academic program and oversee a faculty committee responsible for curriculum, admissions, and student oversight.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cole as the new director of education in MolES,” said MolES director Suzie Pun . “His interdisciplinary experience, mentorship, and leadership will be invaluable as he guides the Molecular Engineering Ph.D. Program. We look forward to the innovative ideas and direction he will bring to our graduate program. We’re also deeply grateful to Alshakim Nelson for his leadership in growing the MolE Ph.D. program since 2020 and for his continued support.”
DeForest joined the UW faculty in 2014. His research aims to combine critical ideas from various fields—materials science, synthetic chemistry, and stem cell biology— to develop next-generation strategies for functional tissue engineering and controlled therapeutic delivery. DeForest has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his research, including the NIH MIRA Award, NSF CAREER Award, Society for Biomaterials Young Investigator Award, and Early Career Award in Cancer Research.
“I am excited to step into the role of Director of Education at MolES,” said DeForest. “The Molecular Engineering Ph.D. program represents a unique, interdisciplinary approach to addressing some of society’s most critical challenges. I look forward to working with our students and faculty to enhance this innovative program further and foster the next generation of leaders in molecular engineering.”
MolES launched its Ph.D. program in molecular engineering in 2014, the first such program in the world. Molecular engineering integrates molecular-level science and engineering to drive new technologies that address urgent societal needs in sustainable energy and human health. The program is overseen by an interdisciplinary committee comprised of representatives from the Departments of Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Sciences and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Physics.
MolE students work with faculty researchers across the UW and other local research institutions, including the Institute for Systems Biology , on various projects, from developing better battery materials for a clean energy future to designing de novo proteins that selectively bind targets to treat or prevent disease.
Graduates of the program have gone on to build successful careers in academia and industry, contributing to fields like drug development, sustainable energy, and advanced manufacturing.