Dr. Maria Gutierrez

Biography

Professor Gutierrez is an innovator at the intersection of architecture, materials, and engineering science, focusing on material invention at the nano building scale. In 2008, she founded the research group BIOMS, which collaborates to transform natural materials into multifunctional capacities, bridging energy, water, and air cultures. Her design research has been showcased at leading scientific architectural public forums, such as Science Nation and BBC. Gutierrez has received prestigious design awards like the ACSA Creative Achievement Award and was a semifinalist for the Evolo Skyscraper award for her Detox Towers design. She has extensive experience in fieldwork throughout the Americas, advancing sustainability and health in construction innovation, especially in remote Northwestern Amazon zones. From 2011 to 2016, she was a Senior Fellow of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. Her recent work focuses on plant wood composites, flood resilience, and democratization of 3D printing technologies. She is a Bakar Fellow (2020-2022) and a Fulbright Fellow, leading projects funded by the National Science Foundation's Emerging Frontiers Innovation Award. Her research has been published in prestigious journals and exhibited internationally. Gutierrez is also the author of forthcoming books on regeneration and 3D printing.

Research Interests