Matthew Daniel Barros

Guided by a relentless curiosity for knowledge, Matthew Daniel Barros has always been compelled by the inner workings of things and constantly finding ways to enhance them. While in high school and junior college, he excelled in science and math, leading him to pursue a career in research. On this front, he became involved in summer research programs through his connections with professors and also participated in the McNair Summer Scholars Program and the Bridges to Biomedical Careers program to transition to Colorado State University Pueblo—his outstanding work here led to his admission to the chemistry program, where he explored his passion for hands-on experiences. He conducted extensive research in the biochemistry laboratory and ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology in 2006, further solidifying his passion for research.

Mr. Barros launched his career in the field as a research assistant at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where he excelled from 2009 to 2021, quickly advancing from a Professional Research Assistant to a Senior Professional Research Assistant, a role he has held since 2011. While in this role, he worked under his mentor, Dr. Jeff Sansbury, with whom they developed unique polymers that were used to tackle various challenges, such as reduced shrinkage stress of general restorations, improved wear protection, and increased longevity, which subsequently led to 3D printing innovations. Over the course of his career, he has made significant contributions to the area of polymer chemistry, particularly through an extensive patent portfolio.

He subsequently served as a GPC service specialist at Tosoh Bioscience LLC for a year before situating himself at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department of Endocrinology. In this capacity, he works in a double-labeled water lab for metabolism studies, utilizing integrated cavity optical spectroscopy to track deuterium in labeled water provided for the participants of the studies.

Looking toward the future, Mr. Barros hopes to expand his knowledge and expertise in his current position; his primary goals include gaining a deeper understanding of metabolism studies and related areas and learning from his respected mentors, which also include Dr. Ed Melanson and Seth Creasey. Additionally committed to ongoing learning, he is dedicated to becoming a true expert in his field.