COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Programs Get New Director

Headshot of Dr. Teresa Murray

The College has named Professor of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Teresa Murray Interim Director of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Murray is well-known at Louisiana Tech and within the biomedical engineering community for her research in neuroscience and micro-imaging. Her innovative biomedical research and collaborations across programs and universities have secured millions of dollars for Louisiana Tech.

Most of her research is channeled through the Integrated Neuroscience and Imaging Lab at Louisiana Tech University, where she and her students expand the functionality of micro-optics for neuroscience applications. The lab serves as a conduit between neuroscience and optics to advance medical science, with significant projects including the development of therapies for brain injuries and neurological disorders.

Through grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, notably a six-million-dollar award for developing sensors and work on glial cells and gliogenesis, Dr. Murray has elevated the status of biomedical research, helping to create new technologies that diagnose and treat brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, seizures, and traumatic brain injury.

Beyond the classroom and laboratory, Dr. Murray’s leadership has been pivotal in organizing and chairing conferences and symposia, providing a platform for researchers to share their findings and collaborate with peers. Her involvement in these events has not only strengthened the biomedical engineering community but has also enhanced Louisiana Tech University’s reputation as a hub for innovative research in the field.

Her leadership experience spans across local, national, and global biomedical engineering organizations. Dr. Murray is an active member of key professional organizations like the Biomedical Engineering Society and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, fostering collaboration between her lab, Louisiana Tech, and experts around the world. She serves on the international Alpha Eta Mu Beta Honorary Society Board (AHMB), where she presided as president from 2014-2020, and the Society for Neuroscience, Shreveport Chapter, which she chaired from 2014-2015. She also chaired the Council of Diversity in Biomedical Engineering last year. Her contributions have been recognized through various awards, including the 2020 Outstanding Dedication and Service Award from AHMB and the 2022 Rhodes Eminent Scholar Chair.

I am honored to serve the faculty, staff, and students of the Biomedical and Chemical Engineering programs. Each day brings opportunities to impact our operation and environment in positive ways.

Dr. Teresa Murray

Interim Director, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering

Dr. Murray working with a student

Beyond the classroom and laboratory, Dr. Murray’s leadership has been pivotal in organizing and chairing conferences and symposia, providing a platform for researchers to share their findings and collaborate with peers. Her involvement in these events has strengthened the biomedical engineering community and enhanced Louisiana Tech University’s reputation as a hub for innovative research.

Her leadership experience spans across local, national, and global biomedical engineering organizations. Dr. Murray is an active member of key professional organizations like the Biomedical Engineering Society and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, fostering collaboration between her lab, Louisiana Tech, and experts around the world. She serves on the international Alpha Eta Mu Beta Honorary Society Board (AHMB), where she presided as president from 2014-2020, and the Society for Neuroscience, Shreveport Chapter, which she chaired from 2014-2015. She also chaired the Council of Diversity in Biomedical Engineering last year. Her contributions have been recognized through various awards, including the 2020 Outstanding Dedication and Service Award from AHMB and the 2022 Rhodes Eminent Scholar Chair.

Dr. Terri Murray’s promotion to the interim academic director position of Biomedical Engineering has given the department the consistent and present leadership that we need to serve as teachers and researchers. Dr. Murray has been ready and willing to stand up for each of the faculty and address our needs and the needs of the department. She fosters a collaborative environment that allows for innovative research and instruction within our program.

Dr. Louis Reis

Program Chair, Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Murray earned her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in bioengineering from Arizona State University. She completed postdoctoral training at the Yale University Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s program for university teaching, earning several professional certificates in Responsible Conduct in Research, HHMI Teaching in the Humanities, and HHMI Teaching in Engineering.