Amanda Nash and Kelsey Swingle joined the Department of Bioengineering faculty in the fall of 2025. The two new assistant professors strengthen Rice University’s impact on global health, bringing expertise in biomaterials and innovative drug delivery technologies.
"Amanda and Kelsey both bring a wealth of experience translating innovative technologies to clinical application,” said Cynthia Reinhart-King, department chair and John W. Cox Chair of Bioengineering. “With the addition of their labs to the department, we increase our opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and the transformative pioneering research for which we are known as a top-ranked bioengineering department."
Nash leads a research program that develops cell communication technologies to treat a range of human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and aging. This fall, she established her Rice lab, which is focused on developing precision drug delivery systems for controlled modulation of the immune response.
“I am proud of how my research team has come together and worked incredibly hard to get our lab off the ground,” said Nash. “It has been a tremendous effort and I couldn't have done it without them.”
Nash focused her graduate research on implantable cytokine factories for the treatment of ovarian cancer. After her graduate studies, she worked as a management consultant at McKinsey and Company, specializing in business development for top pharmaceutical and medtech companies.
She was drawn to Rice University because of its location near the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical center in the world. “Rice was my top choice as a faculty member,” said Nash. “The research is cutting-edge, and the training environment within the Texas Medical Center is unparalleled.”
Swingle’s research focuses on the intersection of biomaterials science, immune engineering, and reproductive biology to address global health challenges. Her lab uses engineering fundamentals and a translation-focused mindset to design and evaluate biomaterial-based technologies for therapeutic applications in women’s health.
“As I finish my first semester at Rice, I’m most proud of the trainees that have joined the lab and their eagerness and excitement to share my vision,” said Swingle. “I’m so impressed by what they each bring to the lab in terms of skillsets, expertise, and interests. Together, they will shape the future of my lab for many years to come.”
Interdisciplinary collaboration is a critical component of her research—and one of the factors that led her to Rice University.
“From my first visit to Rice Bioengineering, it was obvious that the culture both within the department and across Rice as a whole was highly collegial and collaborative,” said Swingle. “As I want my lab to explore interdisciplinary research, finding a department that values meaningful collaboration was at the top of my priority list.”
The Swingle lab is currently collaborating with a team at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University to develop an RNA-based therapeutic for heavy menstrual bleeding as part of a $50M program in women’s health titled “The Missed Vital Sign.” Funded by Wellcome Leap, this project aims to reduce the time it takes a woman to get effective treatment for the condition by more than tenfold.
Nash and Swingle both serve on the leadership team of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, a Houston-based accelerator that translates Rice University’s health and medical technology discoveries into cures. Their experience in translational research will support Houston’s growing biotechnology ecosystem as it solidifies its place as a national hub for the industry.