Dr. Edward Eisenstein is an associate professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering. After many years of conducting molecular, genetic, structural and biophysical investigations into the mechanisms of interaction among biological macromolecules, Eisenstein’s research interests have shifted to develop broad, collaborative, and multidisciplinary solutions to the challenge of engineering plants as robust and healthy bioenergy and bioproduct feedstocks, and in providing varied project-based learning opportunities for students.

“A key element in our students’ education stream must be a multidisciplinary research, group project-based, or meaningful outreach experience, especially if they truly are to provide innovative, next-gen solutions to our most pressing problems, ” Eisenstein said. As the founding co-advisor of the UMaryland iGEM team, a global competition where student teams build novel biological devices to address a plethora of societal problems. he has introduced over 100 undergraduate students to synthetic biology research aimed to solve global problems, enabling them to compete successfully at the yearly international iGEM Jamboree. When he isn’t in the classroom, his pastimes include playing ice hockey and golf.