Dr. Floreani earned her BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2004 and her MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in 2007 and 2009. After two years of post-doctoral work at the University of Washington, she started her position at UVM in 2011.
Dr. Floreani leads interdisciplinary teams at biotech start-ups and in academia. She serves as an advisor to industry partners and female founders around the world. Dr. Floreani has been invited to speak at international conferences, has been interviewed by multiple news outlets, and has served on academic panels related to her research.

Dr. Floreani collaborates on research and product development across many fields, including tissue engineering, biomaterials, sustainability, biomimicry, and the valorization of agricultural byproducts. Her mission is focused on generating translatable products that benefit both humankind and the planet. Her current work addresses a critical need in meat production for food-safe materials that can supplement traditional meat. Her team’s use of upcycled dairy proteins represents an innovative approach to sustainable bioengineering materials that could significantly advance both meat technology and broader biomaterials applications.

Dr. Floreani also brings prior startup and commercialization experience, having worked on the development of tissue-engineered medical devices at a venture spun out of DePuy Orthopaedics, which was later acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Her unique combination of academic leadership and hands-on industry experience positions her at the intersection of innovation and practical application. Dr. Floreani is also committed to community outreach and engineering education. She provides hands on experience in her laboratory to local high school students, and serves as a mentor to female and non-binary K-12 students interested in the STEM fields.