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SQI: Simpson Querry Institute

SQI staff leadership appointments

Erin L. Hsu, Ph.D., research associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM), will serve as Assistant Director of the Simpson Querrey Institute. In her new role, Hsu will work closely with SQI Director Samuel I. Stupp, on strategic initiatives that will influence the Institute's future development. In particular, she will help develop new programs designed to foster connections between Feinberg faculty, key collaborators at SQI, and other faculty based on the Evanston campus.

Hsu's background is in molecular toxicology. Her laboratory focuses on developing novel biomaterials for bone regeneration. The approaches and technologies she utilizes include stem cell-based therapies, nanotechnology-based synthetic matrices, and osteoinductive 3D-printable natural and synthetic materials. Hsu has forged strong collaborative relationships with SQI faculty, including Samuel Stupp, Ramille Shah, and Wellington Hsu. Erin holds a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in molecular toxicology from UCLA. She has been a faculty member at FSM since 2008 and a SQI resident since 2014.

SQI also welcomes Mark Kleinschmidt, Ph.D., as the first Director of Research Strategy and Development. In this new position, Mark will work with the SQI Director on fundraising and to develop strategic internal and external partnerships. He will also play a leading role in developing and executing SQI's strategy for research and programming activities.

Mark brings a diverse background to SQI. He grew up on an organic dairy farm in Nebraska and received his bachelor's degree in physics from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his thesis research focused on transmission electron microscopy study of in-situ crystal growth. Mark worked in the private sector at Avery Dennison for 14 years performing in a wide range of roles including Marketing, Standards-setting, Regulatory Affairs, Research and Product Development Leadership, Product Management, Marketing Communications, Technical Services, and Strategy Development. While working at Avery Dennison, Mark pursued an MBA at Kellogg with majors in Marketing and Management & Strategy.