Research Team
Martin Villegas
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD. McMaster University (Biomedical Engineering), MASc, B. Eng
Dr. Martin Villegas successfully defended his doctoral dissertation with distinction in October 2023. His dissertation, titled “Multifunctional Liquid-Infused Surface Coatings to Prevent Implant-Associated Infections,” culminated in a ground-breaking project focused on the development of a surface coating for titanium implants aimed at preventing infections and enhancing osseointegration. This innovative coating underwent rigorous testing in a sepsis animal model, demonstrating a remarkable prevention of all mortalities within the test group, in stark contrast to control groups that experienced mortality rates as high as 90%.
Throughout his academic journey at McMaster University, Dr. Villegas has assumed various leadership roles both within the university and externally. Over the past six years (2017-2023), he served as the President of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA). Presently, he has been the Safety Officer for the Didar Lab for the last 5 years and is also appointed as the treasurer of the Board of Directors at the Olympia Condominium—a role he has maintained for the past five years.
Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Dr. Villegas garnered valuable industry experience working as an electrical technician and control systems engineer at Rowan Companies Inc. During his tenure, he gained hands-on expertise in diverse working conditions, with assignments taking him to the UK, Holland, Norway, and the USA. Despite his primary focus on engineering, his commitment to medicine remained evident through volunteer work at a Texas clinic, where he gained insights into medical tests and point-of-care instrumentation.
Currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow in the Didar Lab, Dr. Villegas’s primary project involves the development of an innovative coating for medical catheters to prevent blood coagulation. This collaborative initiative includes partnership with FendX Technologies Inc (fendxtech.com).
Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Villegas maintains a keen interest in travel, exploring diverse cultures and languages. In his leisure time, he actively engages in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira and contributes to the creation of three-dimensional assets for websites and video game development.
Dr. Martin Villegas successfully defended his doctoral dissertation with distinction in October 2023. His dissertation, titled “Multifunctional Liquid-Infused Surface Coatings to Prevent Implant-Associated Infections,” culminated in a ground-breaking project focused on the development of a surface coating for titanium implants aimed at preventing infections and enhancing osseointegration. This innovative coating underwent rigorous testing in a sepsis animal model, demonstrating a remarkable prevention of all mortalities within the test group, in stark contrast to control groups that experienced mortality rates as high as 90%.
Throughout his academic journey at McMaster University, Dr. Villegas has assumed various leadership roles both within the university and externally. Over the past six years (2017-2023), he served as the President of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Association (BMEGA). Presently, he has been the Safety Officer for the Didar Lab for the last 5 years and is also appointed as the treasurer of the Board of Directors at the Olympia Condominium—a role he has maintained for the past five years.
Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Dr. Villegas garnered valuable industry experience working as an electrical technician and control systems engineer at Rowan Companies Inc. During his tenure, he gained hands-on expertise in diverse working conditions, with assignments taking him to the UK, Holland, Norway, and the USA. Despite his primary focus on engineering, his commitment to medicine remained evident through volunteer work at a Texas clinic, where he gained insights into medical tests and point-of-care instrumentation.
Currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow in the Didar Lab, Dr. Villegas’s primary project involves the development of an innovative coating for medical catheters to prevent blood coagulation. This collaborative initiative includes partnership with FendX Technologies Inc (fendxtech.com).
Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Villegas maintains a keen interest in travel, exploring diverse cultures and languages. In his leisure time, he actively engages in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira and contributes to the creation of three-dimensional assets for websites and video game development.