Associate Professor Hua Wang has been selected to receive the 2026 Biomaterials Science Lectureship, a prestigious early-career honor presented annually by the Royal Society of Chemistry recognizing significant contributions to the biomaterials field. As part of the award, Wang will deliver a September 2026 lecture at the European Society for Biomaterials annual conference in Antwerp, Belgium.
Written by Jackson Brunner
Associate Professor Hua Wang of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,has been selected to receive the 2026 Biomaterials Science Lectureship, one of the most competitive early-career honors in the field.
Pictured: Associate Professor Hua Wang
Why it matters:The annual lectureship, presented by the Royal Society of Chemistry and its journalBiomaterials Science, recognizes early-career researchers — typically within 12 years of their PhD — who have made significant contributions to the biomaterials field. Wang was chosen from a highly competitive pool of international nominees.
What he's known for:Wang's research spans cancer immunotherapy, immune engineering, metabolic glycoengineering and cancer targeting. These areas are at the cutting edge of biomaterials science.
"Hua Wang is a rising star working at the forefronts of biomaterials and cancer immunotherapy. Hua is most deserving of this recognition because he has made tremendous contributions to several biomaterials related fields." — Prof. Shuming Nie, nominator of Hua Wang for this award and interim head of the Department of Bioenginering at The Grainger College of Engineering
What comes with the award:Wang will present a designated lecture at the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) annual conference in Antwerp, Belgium (Sept. 7–11, 2026). Wang looks forward to sharing recent research discoveries from his lab to the broad audience of biomaterials science.
“I am excited to receive this award and feel grateful for the tremendous support from my mentors, collaborators and trainees,” said Wang.
What's next:The Royal Society of Chemistry is coordinating with ESB organizers to schedule his lecture and formal award presentation in Belgium this fall.