Jennifer Lewis ('86, B.S., Ceramics Engineering) earned another career honor with her election to the National Academy of Medicine.
Lewis is currently a professor at Harvard University, holding the title of Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering in the institution's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She previously served as a member of the Illinois materials department faculty from 1990 to 2012.
Her research, focused on on 3D bioprinting of soft and living materials, has proved impactful in the healthcare industry. She created advanced techniques for development of vascularized organoids and human tissues, which are used in drug discovery, disease modeling and therapeutic repair.
Lewis was among 90 regular members and 10 international members of the academy to be recognized with this honor at its 2026 annual meeting. This election is one of the highest honors in health and medicine for those who show outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service, per a press release from the organization.
“I am thrilled to welcome these outstanding health and medicine leaders into the National Academy of Medicine,” said NAM President Monica M. Bertagnolli of the elected class. “Their extraordinary talent and commitment to advancing evidence-based guidance and solutions for our country’s greatest health care challenges will strengthen our efforts to improve health for all.”
Lewis was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2017 and earned the 2025 James Prize in Science and Technology Integration from the National Academy of Sciences. She is also a fellow of the Materials Research Society, the American Physical Society and the American Ceramic Society.