Materials Science: Stress & Structures

Lorna Jane Gibson has established herself as a distinguished materials scientist and engineer at MIT, where she holds the position of Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1978, followed by a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 1981, focusing on the elastic and plastic behavior of cellular materials. After working as a Senior Engineer at Arctec Canada Ltd. and serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia from 1982 to 1984, she joined MIT where she has made significant contributions to materials science and engineering. Gibson's groundbreaking research focuses on cellular materials, including engineering honeycombs, foams, natural materials like wood and bamboo, and medical materials such as trabecular bone and tissue engineering scaffolds. She co-founded OrthoMimetics Ltd. in 2005, which was later acquired by TiGenix for £14.3 million. Throughout her career at MIT, Gibson has held several leadership positions, including Chair of the Faculty from 2005-2006 and Associate Provost from 2006-2008. Her excellence in teaching earned her recognition as a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT's highest award for undergraduate teaching. Gibson has authored several influential books, including "Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties" and "Cellular Materials in Nature and Medicine". Her recent research projects have expanded to include aerogels for thermal insulation, nanofibrillar cellulose foams, and the mechanics of plant materials.