University of Rhode Island professor Daniel Roxbury has been named to the Providence Business News 40 Under Forty list.

The award recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who have excelled in their profession and are involved in their communities.

“I’m extremely humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Roxbury, an associate professor of chemical engineering. “There are many colleagues, students, friends, and family that I’d like to thank for helping me reach this place in my career. I strive to continue this upward trajectory and make the URI College of Engineering known for its cutting edge research and teaching excellence.”

Roxbury’s research focuses on biomedical and nanotechnology. He runs the NanoBio Engineering Laboratory, which uses a variety of imaging, spectroscopy, and other analytical techniques to investigate the interactions between these engineered nanomaterials and biological systems. 

The award was presented to Roxbury, who is 36, at an event on July 21 at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick. 

Roxbury made news in 2021 when the “smart bandage” he created with graduate student Mohammad Moein Safaee caught the attention of the media and science publications.

Embedded with nanosensors in the microfibers, the smart bandage can detect and prevent infections in a wound. The invention was featured locally by Providence Business News and Rhode Island Inno, and television stations WJAR and WPRI.

The smart bandage was the subject of articles in nationally and internationally publications, such as Nano Magazine, Interesting Engineering, The Science Times, The Engineer, The Chemical Engineer, Technical Textile, Medical Design and Outsourcing, and Specialty Fabrics Review.

The last URI engineering professor to make the 40 Under Forty list was Kunal Mankodiya in 2017. Mankodiya was 35 at the time.