The department Welcomes Alumni Dr. Joseph Rich and Dr. Hayley Ford as New FacultyThe Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering is thrilled to announce the addition of two new faculty members to the team: Dr. Joseph Rich and Dr. Hayley Ford. In a unique homecoming, both professors are returning to the department after receiving their undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering from BYU in 2020.
Dr. Joseph Rich: Advancing Acoustofluidics and Microsystems
Dr. Joseph Rich joins the department as a technical expert in Acoustofluidics Biomedical Microsystems, a field that combines acoustics and fluid dynamics. Through this specialization, he has developed novel actuators, sensors, and manufacturing tools that push the boundaries of both acoustofluidics and biomedical engineering.
After earning his B.S. at BYU, Dr. Rich attended Duke University, where he received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and a Doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering. His research vision focuses on exploring the underlying forces within micro- and nanosystems to develop interdisciplinary tools that allow for unprecedented control within critical microenvironments. He aims to engineer systems that improve quality of life and expand our understanding of nature.
Dr. Rich is currently working across diverse fields, including additive manufacturing, nuclear engineering, materials science, and biomedical engineering. He notes that his lab currently has many active projects and he is looking for students to join his team. In the classroom, he is teaching the Semiconductor and Fluid Dynamics courses.
Outside of engineering, Dr. Rich is a father of three children, aged five, three, and one. He enjoys skiing, triathlons, and surfing. Although he describes himself as a "beginner" surfer, he has successfully taught 23 people how to surf.
Dr. Hayley Ford: Engineering the Future of Biopharmaceuticals
Dr. Hayley Ford is excited to join the department as its newest faculty member. Originally from Eagle Mountain, Utah, she earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from BYU cum laude in 2020. During her undergraduate years, she was actively involved in student leadership, STEM outreach, and research on cell-free protein synthesis.
Dr. Ford recently received her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she was a member of the Love Lab. Her research focused on Biochemical Engineering, specifically using CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically engineer microorganisms to enhance biopharmaceutical and vaccine production. She led projects engineering Komagataella phaffii (yeast) to improve recombinant protein secretion and developed bioreactor protocols for monoclonal antibody production.
She is actively setting up her research lab at BYU, which will focus on translating the skills she gained at MIT to engineer additional fungal systems for recombinant protein manufacturing. Beyond the lab, Dr. Ford is passionate about mentorship and teaching. While at MIT, she guest-lectured, worked with undergraduate researchers, and developed curriculum modules on CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
Dr. Ford served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West Virginia Charleston Mission from 2015 to 2017. She recently married her "graduate-school sweetheart," whom she met in Boston, and is excited for the next steps in her professional journey back at BYU.