- Dylan G. Turpeinen joins ChE as an instructional assistant professor, bringing six years of industry experience.
- He will share biotech and biomedical‑device insights drawn from his work at NeXtGen Biologics.
- Turpeinen is a seasoned homebrewer, former cross-country runner and woodworker.
Dylan G. Turpeinen, Ph.D., a scientist with six years of industry experience, has joined the Chemical Engineering family as an instructional assistant professor.
After earning his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2020, Turpeinen worked as a process development scientist and research and development scientist, most recently at NeXtGen Biologics in Alachua.
There, he led the research and development department tasked with driving the feasibility studies to bring axolotl-derived medical devices to the regenerative medicine market.
The axolotls are unique aquatic salamanders found naturally near Mexico City, and scientists hope to bring their tissue-regeneration capabilities to the regenerative medicine market and help promote scar-free healing in humans.
“Before the R&D position, I was a biomanufacturing technical specialist and process-development scientist in charge of scaling up bioprocesses and bringing vaccines through clinical trials,” he said.
Chemical engineers are considered the “jack-of-all-trades” engineers, and Turpeinen contends “my motivation to become a chemical engineer was because I have a very active mind that needs to stay busy and interested in a broad array of topics, and my chemical engineering degrees have allowed me to understand the world around me better.”
Born in Orlando and raised in Houghton, Michigan, he said he was lured to the area by the Florida High Tech Corridor, a multi-county economic development initiative that connects state universities, businesses and communities to nurture high-tech industries and create jobs.
Turpeinen said he looks forward to sharing his industrial experience with students at the University of Florida to prepare them for industrial careers across a wide array of job sectors.
“I think I bring a unique perspective of the biotech and biomedical device industries that students in chemical engineering are becoming more interested in,” he said.
Here is more about ChE’s newest faculty member:
If you had not become a chemical engineer, what would you have been?
Before deciding on chemical engineering, I was incredibly interested in woodworking and metalworking. I was convinced I was going to become an underwater welder for oil rigs or other equipment until I realized the danger of such a job.
What do you do for fun?
The main hobby taking over our house and free time currently is homebrewing. My wife and I brew together and are also Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges. We have won multiple medals for our beers submitted to homebrew competitions.
What are your favorite bands?
My favorite music is hard rock like Three Days Grace, I Prevail, Breaking Benjamin and Sleep Token. I cannot stop listening to Sleep Token.
Any favorite foods?
Sushi. I will always say yes to a fresh smoked salmon or yellowtail.
Anything about you that people would find surprising?
I was the fastest, undefeated cross-country runner (5K) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at one point in my life.
Are there any places on your bucket list?
I’ve been to Mexico, Canada, England, Wales, Wales, Singapore, Thailand and, most recently, Japan. Although I was in Japan two years ago, it is still on my bucket list because I would love to visit Hokkaido and Okinawa in different seasons.
I spent a summer in Singapore doing research at the National University of Singapore, and it was incredible to see so much packed into such a small country. I went to the top of one tall building and could see almost the entire country from north to south.
Married? Kids? Pets?
I am married to fellow ChE Instructional Assistant Professor Lilu Funkenbusch, Ph.D. We have two mischievous cats and one couch potato of a dog who is the absolute goodest girl in the world. Our sweet doggo’s name is Ellie, and she is an 8-year-old mixed breed of beagle, pit and Australian cattle dog.