Dr. David Prawel is an Associate Research Professor and Co-Director of the Biomaterials Research and Engineering Laboratory. His research team develops biomaterials and devices to improve bone healing, particularly with critical-sized bone defects caused by cancer and trauma, which often lead to limb loss. His lab develops biomimetic biomaterials and explores how 3D shape and structure affect the biological and mechanical performance of bone healing scaffolds and devices in orthopedic medicine.

Dr. Prawel has enjoyed a four-decade career as an entrepreneur, consultant, author and educator in 3D technology applied to digital product development and manufacturing. In his industrial career, he helped create several 3D technology companies, with one successful IPO and hopefully another in the works.

In 2007, he joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University where he also develops new 3D printing technology and founded CSU’s Idea-2-Product 3D printing lab in 2012.