Danielle Benoit is the Lorry Lokey Chair of the Department of Bioengineering. Her research specializes in the rational design of polymeric materials for regenerative medicine and drug delivery applications.

Before joining the Knight Campus, Benoit served as the University of Rochester’s William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Materials Science Program. Her work has provided insights into the translation of tissue engineering strategies for bone allograft repair, development of pH-responsive nanoparticles for nucleic acid and small molecule delivery, and novel targeting strategies for bone-specific delivery of therapeutics. An award-winning researcher, teacher, and mentor, she is a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering Society, as well as an Associate Editor for Science Advances and the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B.

As chair, Benoit plays an instrumental role in the continued development of the Department of Bioengineering, including shaping and maturing the research and educational portfolio, coordinating fundraising, outreach, and alumni and industry relations, and hiring of approximately 15 new faculty as Phase 2 of the Knight Campus is completed. These efforts are critical to advancing the Knight Campus mission of translating research discoveries into innovations to improve the human condition.

Benoit received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington in the Department of Bioengineering. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maine, Orono, in Biological Engineering.