OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2015
- B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
Academic Appointments
- Drexel University - Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Adjunct Teaching Professor, 2019-Present
- Biomaterials I, Biomaterials II, Biomaterials III
Professional Honors
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2015
- Materials Science Senior Achievement Award, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
- Senior Design Research Award, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
- Tau Beta Pi Appreciation Award, National Engineering Honor Society, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
Professional Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania Engineering Alumni Society Board
- American Chemical Society
- Society of Plastics Engineers
- Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
Dr. Wade's expertise includes polymer design, synthesis, and characterization, with broad experience in the failure analysis of plastic and rubber components for various applications. He is particularly experienced in the development of polymeric systems for biomedical applications including drug delivery and regenerative medicine.
Additional areas of focus include hydrogel development, micro and nano-particle formulation, polymeric biodegradation, biocompatibility of materials, and drug delivery.
The interdisciplinary nature of Dr. Wade's background has given him extensive experience in chemical, mechanical, and biological characterization of polymeric materials. In particular, he is well versed in polymer synthesis, solid-phase peptide synthesis, and a wide variety of chemical characterization techniques including UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Additionally, he is proficient in mechanical characterization techniques including nano-indentation, oscillatory rheometry, and dynamic mechanical analysis with a particular focus on the mechanical behavior of hydrogels. He is experienced in both in vitro (cell culture, enzymatic degradation and protein release from polymers, confocal and scanning electron microscopy) and in vivo (material erosion, protein staining, near-infrared imaging) characterization for the evaluation of the biocompatibility of polymeric materials.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Wade's academic research developed multiple hydrogel systems to control cell-material interactions by designing biophysical and biochemical signals into polymeric materials. Before completing his Ph.D., Dr. Wade worked at Merck & Co. as a Manufacturing Facilitator for bulk protein purification of the Gardasil ® vaccine and is experienced in GMP compliant manufacturing practices.
