Rebecca R. Pompano, PhD

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Dr. Rebecca R. Pompano is a Shannon Mid-Career Fellow and Associate Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia.  She completed a BS in Chemistry at the University of Richmond (2005) and a PhD (2011) at the University of Chicago.  Dr. Pompano's research interests center on developing cutting edge tools to unravel the complexity of the immune response, in work that is funded by multiple NIH awards. In recognition of her laboratory’s work, she has received a number of awards, including most recently the 2022 Gordon and Betty Moore Inventor Fellowship and an inaugural UVA Shannon Center Mid-Career Fellowship. She was the co-chair and co-founder of the inaugural Gordon Research Conference for Immunoengineering, held in Ventura, CA in July, 2022, and a co-chair of the 2023 meeting for Microscale Separations and Bioanalysis (MSB 2023, Florida). In addition to her research, she is active in building inclusive environments for STEM research and education and currently serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Chemistry at UVA.

 

Professional Positions

2023 - present

2021 - present

2014 - 2021

Shannon Center Mid-Career Fellow and Associate Professor

Associate Professor

Assistant Professor

University of Virginia

Department of Chemistry

Courtesy Appointment in Biomedical Engineering.

Affiliations:

  • UVA Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, Member

  • UVA nanoSTAR Institute, Member

  • UVA Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Adjunct Member

  • UVA Cancer Center

Education

Postdoctoral Scholar, Dept. of Surgery, University of Chicago. 2011 - 2014.

  • Research focus: Development of peptide-based nanoparticles for non-inflammatory vaccines

  • Advisor: Joel H. Collier, PhD

  • Collaborative advisor: Anita S. Chong, PhD

PhD in Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Chicago. 2011

  • Research focus: Spatial control of biochemical kinetics and droplet dynamics via microfluidics and modeling

  • Advisor: Rustem F. Ismagilov, PhD

BS in Chemistry, University of Richmond. summa cum laude. 2005

External Funding

  • The Hartwell Foundation, Individual Biomedical Research Award, 2016-2019

  • Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Starter Grant Award, 2016

  • AAI Careers in Immunology Fellowship, 2016-2017

  • NIH NIAID, R01 AI131723, 2017 - 2022. Role: PI

  • NIH NIBIB, R03 EB028043, 2019 - 2021. Role: PI

  • NIH NIBIB, U01 EB029127, 2019 - 2024. Role: PI

  • NIH NIAID, R21, 2021 - 2023. Role: Multi-PI with Kimberly Kelly.

  • Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, Moore Inventor Fellowship, 2022-2025

For a complete list of funding, including generous support and seed funding from UVA Institutes and Centers, click here.

National Honors and Awards

  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Inventor Fellowship, 2022

  • Organ-on-a-Chip Emerging Investigator Special Issue, 2022

  • Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry Female Role Models Issue, 2020

  • Young Investigator Highlight, GRC on Physics and Chemistry of Microfluidics, 2019

  • CMBE Rising Star Award, 2019

  • Lab on a Chip Emerging Investigator, 2018

  • AAI Careers in Immunology Fellowship, 2016

  • Society of Analytical Chemists Starter Grant Award, 2016

  • The Hartwell Foundation 2015 Individual Biomedical Research Award, 2016

  • AAI Early Career Faculty Travel Grant, 2015

  • American Association of Immunologists Public Policy Fellows Program, 2014-2015

  • Travel Award, Materials Research Society, 2013

  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2006-2009

  • Phi Beta Kappa, elected 2005

  • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, 2004

  • Boehringer Ingelheim National Merit Special Scholarship, 2001

Institutional Honors and Awards

University of Virginia

  • Inaugural Shannon Mid-Career Fellowship, 2023-2026

  • Inaugural Research Excellence Award from the University of Virginia, 2020

  • Joanne Cohoon Enhancement Grant from UVA CHARGE, 2016

  • Center for Teaching Excellence Ignite Program, 2015-2016

  • Excellence in Diversity Fellows, 2014-2015

University of Chicago

  • Dept. of Surgery Huggins Symposium Speaker Award, 2013, 2014

  • Albert J. Cross Prize for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Departmental Citizenship, 2010

  • Edith Barnard Memorial Award in Chemistry for Service to Others, 2008

  • Nathan Sugarman Teaching Award, 2006

  • Freud Scholar Fellowship, 2005

University of Richmond

  • Garnett Ryland Award for Best Graduate in Chemistry, 2005

  • J. Stanton Pierce Award, 2004

  • Analytical Chemistry Award, 2004

  • Undergraduate Joint Research Grant, 2003

  • Gamma Sigma Epsilon, elected 2003

  • Undergraduate Award for Achievement in Organic Chemistry, 2003

  • William Trout General Chemistry Award, 2002

  • Ethyl & Albemarle Science Scholarship (Full Tuition, Room and Board), 2001

Professional Service

  • Member of Executive Technical Program committee, MicroTAS 2023 - present

  • Co-chair of MSB 2023 (microscale bioanalysis), May 2023

  • Co-chair of inaugural Gordon Research Conference for Immunoengineering, July 2022

  • Co-chair/Chair of Sunday workshops, MicroTAS 2021 - 2023

  • Member of Engagement committee, MicroTAS 2021

  • Elected Treasurer/Secretary for SFB Immune Engineering SIG, 2019-2021

  • Symposium organizer, Pittcon: 2017, 2019, 2020

  • Technical Program Committee for MicroTAS 2019 - present

  • Features Panel, Analytical Chemistry, 2019 - present

  • Ad hoc reviewer for NIH study sections including ISD, EBIT, IMAT, CMT, fellowship panels, and others

  • Session reviewer for SFB 2019 (Soc. for Biomaterials)

  • Promotion committee, MicroTAS 2017

  • State leader for Virginia, AAI Capitol Hill Day (American Assoc. of Immunologists), May 2017

  • Chair, Gov’t Affairs Committee for VA section of American Chemical Society, 2016 - 2018