[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Brash.John.jpg” caption=”John Brash”]Chemical engineering professor John Brash has earned an international reputation for his work in the field of biomaterials.

He is being honoured at Spring Convocation this year with the title of University Professor, which he will hold for life. This award is the highest honour the University bestows on its faculty.

Brash joined the University in 1972 as an associate professor in the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Pathology & Molecular Medicine.

His research has focused on the development of novel biomaterials for use in the construction of medical devices, as well as studies of the interactions of proteins from blood and other biological fluids with these materials – the frontier between materials science and engineering and the life sciences.

Brash, a member of the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, is recognized as one of the top scientists in this field in the world.

His work is truly interdisciplinary linking chemical engineering, materials science and the life sciences.

As well, Brash served as the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1997 to 2000 and is a key contributor to the development of a long-term strategy to increase the undergraduate and graduate opportunities in biotechnology. This plan is now supported by two Canada Research Chair openings and two tenure-track appointments.

Brash's contributions have been recognized internationally with multiple awards and accolades including the Clemson Award for Biomaterials Research in 1994 and an honorary doctorate from Universiti Paris XIII in 1996.