MIT Professor Markus J. Buehler has been honored with the 2025 Washington Award, one of the nation’s most venerable and prestigious accolades in the engineering field.
The Washington Award is granted to “an engineer(s) whose professional achievements have significantly promoted the well-being of humanity,” highlighting individuals who have significantly influenced society via innovative engineering solutions. Notable previous awardees encompass key personalities such as Herbert Hoover, the first recipient awarded in 1919, alongside Orville Wright, Henry Ford, Neil Armstrong, John Bardeen, and distinguished MIT members Vannevar Bush, Robert Langer, and software developer Margaret Hamilton.
Buehler was chosen for his “pioneering contributions to computational modeling and the mechanics of biological materials, as well as his influence in engineering education and leadership within academia.” He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers, leading the way in exploring the atomic-level properties and configurations of biomaterials like silk, elastin, and collagen. He applies computational modeling to analyze, design, and produce sustainable materials featuring properties that range from nano- to macro-scale. Buehler was the first to elucidate how hydrogen bonds, molecular confinement, and hierarchical structures influence the mechanics of biological materials by devising a theory that connects molecular interactions with large-scale properties.
His inventive research encompasses the creation of physics-integrated artificial intelligence techniques that merge computational mechanics, bioinformatics, and generative AI to investigate universal design principles for biological and bioinspired materials. His endeavors have deepened the understanding of hierarchical formations in nature, uncovering the mechanisms that allow complex biomaterials to attain exceptional strength, flexibility, and resilience through molecular interactions at various scales.
Buehler’s work involved utilizing deep learning techniques to forecast and produce novel protein structures, self-assembling peptides, and eco-friendly biomimetic materials. His exploration of materiomusic—transforming molecular configurations into musical pieces—has unveiled new perspectives on the concealed patterns present within biological systems.
Buehler holds the position of Jerry McAfee (1940) Professor in Engineering within the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Mechanical Engineering. He was the department head of CEE from 2013 to 2020 and has fulfilled various leadership positions, including serving as president of the Society of Engineering Science.
A committed mentor, Buehler has played a crucial part in guiding aspiring engineers, organizing K-12 STEM summer camps to inspire future generations, and teaching MIT Professional Education summer classes.
His accomplishments have garnered numerous esteemed accolades, such as the Feynman Prize, the Drucker Medal, the Leonardo da Vinci Award, and the J.R. Rice Medal, in addition to his election to the National Academy of Engineering. His research continues to expand the horizons of computational science, materials engineering, and biomimetic design.
The Washington Award was presented during National Engineers Week in February, in a ceremony witnessed by representatives of notable engineering organizations, including the Western Society of Engineers, the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Nuclear Society. The event also honored nearly 100 pre-college students for their accomplishments in regional STEM competitions, showcasing the upcoming generation of engineering talent.