Wilker Lab

Research lab in @PurdueChemistry with a cohesive balance between studying nature's adhesive materials and mimicking its chemistry to create better glues.

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Jon's #TEDx talk from @TEDxPurdueU was just posted on https://t.co/ehoXTZmHoH! #TED

What sticky sea creatures can teach us about making glue (Jonathan Wilker | TEDxPurdueU) https://t.co/DrIyji6Gl5 via @TEDTalks

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

New mussels! The Wilker lab just received a fresh shipment of mussels. They have been welcomed to their new home where they will make adhesives for the lab to study.
#purdue #chemistry #mussels

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Check out this new article from Popular Science about the lab's research into cement inspired by the natural binder created by oysters!
https://t.co/HmNU2xjkBV
#popularscience #oysters #chemistry #purdue

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Congratulations to Aaron Mena for winning a Certificate of Excellence for his poster presentation at the 2026 Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs’ Spring Reception. Great job Aaron!
#presentation #graduate #chemistry #Purdue

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

A very happy congrats to Jasmine for winning the John J. Nash Instructional Development Award and Isabelle for being awarded a Women in Science Program Travel Grant! Way to go guys!
#award #chemistry #purdue

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

We would like to welcome our 2 first year graduate students to the lab! Jasmine and Olivia joined the lab during the end of last year and have been doing amazing research since. Keep up the great work!
#graduate #PhD #purdue #chemistry

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

It's salt day! Yesterday, the Wilker lab received a large shipment of aquarium salt for the mussel and oyster tanks within the lab. They will be set for a while to come!
#mussels #oyster #aquarium #research #chemistry

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

What’s one of the biggest environmental issues that you can’t see? Adhesives. Mostly invisible, these materials have outsized environmental impacts. We just published a perspective in Nature Sustainability about relevant issues and potential solutions.

https://t.co/KQfI9JyVoQ

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Congratulations to Dr. Mitchell Meger and Collin Scott for their recent publication in Chemistry of Materials! Check out the paper on "Mimicking Oyster Reefs to Generate Cements with Enhanced Performance".
#materials #chemistry
https://t.co/SXHahouiwb

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Congratulations to Dr. Nevin Naren on his successful Ph.D. defense! We are very proud of him and are looking forward to his future!
#graduation #PhDdefense #materials #polymers #chemistry

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Check out the following article on the prevalence of microplastics released from paint and glues, in which Jon was interviewed!
#biobased #alternativematerials #glues #chemistry #microplastics

https://t.co/iM5nGV9kBI

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Check out the following article on innovations in designing environmentally friendly high school stadiums, in which Jon was interviewed!

https://t.co/vsiVpFbmTF

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Check out the following articles published by New Scientist and Wood Central regarding a new xylan-based adhesive from Lv et al. (Jon is quoted in both articles!)
https://t.co/a5GUvhKsII
https://t.co/3rOFOfeQdF

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

The field of biological adhesives continues to excite! Check out this graphic designed by Andy Brunning for C&EN which discusses the chemistry behind mussel and oyster adhesives:
https://t.co/1kqp6xBIS6

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Congrats to Aidan, who is graduating this week! He’s been an undergraduate researcher in our lab since Summer 2023, and we've been so fortunate to have him on the team. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, Aidan!

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Huge congratulations to Myah Webb, who’s graduating this semester with a master’s degree! We were thrilled to celebrate with you yesterday and we wish you all the best in your career ahead.

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Alex Lancelot back to the lab! After 3 amazing years as a postdoc with us, Alex spent the past year in Zaragoza finishing his Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship. He’ll be with us for the next 2 weeks. It’s great to have you back, Alex!

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Inspired by oysters and mussels, we create biomimetic adhesives and cements. That’s why we love this: A shell recycling program in Connecticut is helping restore marine habitats. Check out this @nytimes article to learn more:

https://t.co/l8gK48Ikj2

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

During the @PurdueChemistry’s 150th anniversary celebration, several of our own were recognized!

*Dr. Jon Wilker – Grist 50 Fixer Award
*Edison Browne – Ross Fellowship
*Cindy Atencio-Martínez – WISP Travel Grant
*Aaron Mena – Nanoartography Award

Congrats to all!

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Congrats to Bodhi Scott for successfully defending his master’s thesis in Materials Engineering earlier this week! Bodhi joined our lab 3 years ago as an undergrad and completed the 4+1 program, earning both an undergrad and master’s degree in just 5 years. Huge congratulations!

[Wilker Lab @WilkerLabPurdue]

Our lab was featured in @cenmag’s latest article on sustainable adhesives. Don’t miss Jon’s interview on how we're pushing the boundaries of green glue technology!

Read more: https://t.co/4duU9AYO9P