Faculty Directory
David W. M. Marr
Gaylord and Phyllis Weaver Distinguished Professor
Contact Information
462 Alderson Hall
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Materials Science
- Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering
Biography
The controlled assembly of colloidal particles has received significant attention because of their potential application as nano- and micro-structured materials. To vary their structure and behavior, we employ external fields, including applied time-varying electromagnetic, electric, and magnetic fields. Funded currently by the State of Colorado, NIH, NSF and NASA, our goal is the creation of technologically-relevant platforms including micron-scale colloidal-based devices and microbots for biomedical treatment.
Education
- BS – University of California, Berkeley
- MS, PhD – Stanford University
- Post-Doctoral Study – Raychem Corporation
- Education Abroad – Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Germany)
Publications
- Y. Gao, B. Sprinkle, D.W.M. Marr, N. Wu, “Direct Observation of Colloidal Quasicrystallization“, Nature Physics, 2025, (cover article), DOI:10.1038/s41567-025-02859-z, Editorial, News & Views.
- Y. Gao, B. Sprinkle, E. Springer, D.W.M. Marr, N. Wu, Rolling of Soft Microbots with Tunable Traction, Science Advances, 2023, 9(16), eadg0919.
- T. Yang, B. Sprinkle, Y. Guo, Jun Qian, D. Hua, A. Donev, D.W.M. Marr, and N. Wu, “Reconfigurable Microbots Folded from Simple Colloidal Chains”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 2020, DOI:10.1073/pnas.2007255117.
- T. Yang, A. Tomaka, T.O. Tasci, K.B. Neeves, N. Wu, D.W.M. Marr, “Microwheels on Microroads: Enhanced Translation on Topographic Surfaces (downloadable link)“, Science Robotics, 2019, 4:32, DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aaw9525.
- D. Disharoon, K.B. Neeves, D.W.M. Marr, “AC/DC Magnetic Fields for Enhanced Translation of Colloidal Microwheels“, Langmuir, 2019, 35:9, 3455–3460.
- T.O. Tasci, D. Disharoon, R.M. Schoeman, K. Rana, P.S. Herson, D.W.M. Marr, K.B. Neeves, “Enhanced Fibrinolysis with Magnetically Powered Colloidal Microwheels”, Small, 2017, 1700954. DOI:10.1002/smll.201700954.
- T.O. Tasci, P.S. Herson, K.B. Neeves, D.W.M. Marr, “Surface-Enabled Propulsion and Control of Colloidal Microwheels”, Nature Communications, 2016. DOI:10.1038/ncomms10225
- A. Terray, J. Oakey, D.W.M. Marr, “Microfluidic Control Using Colloidal Devices”, Science, 2002, 296, 1841.(Abstract, Full Text). DOI: 10.1126/science.1072133.
Awards & Honors
- 2020, 2024 Gaylord & Phyllis Weaver Distinguished Professorship
- 2014 Faculty Senate Distinguished Lecturer
- 2007-2008 Visiting Professor, Kasetsart University, Bangkok Thailand
- 2007 Dean’s Excellence Award
- 2006 Space Act Award, NASA Inventions and Contributions Board
- 2005-2008 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Universität Stuttgart, Germany
- 2004 National Academy of Sciences, Frontiers of Science, Speaker; 1998 Participant
- 2000 Dow Outstanding New Faculty Award
- 1998-2002 NSF CAREER Award
Additional Information
Research Group
- Yan Gao, Harbin Institute of Technology
- Aaron Ishiki, Montana State
- Fangrong Zou, U of Florida
Center for Microintegrated Optics for Advanced Bioimaging and Control (MOABC)
Research Pillars
Frontiers
Research Focus Areas
Engineering at the Interface of Biology & Technology | Robotics for the Modern World
Research Keywords
Microrobotics