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Science for a greener, cleaner world

At the forefront of sustainability in energy and materials, our faculty are leading advances in (electro)catalysis, synthetic biology, and materials science. Our research focuses on biomass and renewable energy utilization for the sustainable production of chemicals, performance materials, and fuels. Collaborative work and AI-driven computational tools accelerate our understanding and the development of cleaner processes.

Research Faculty

Research Expertise

  • Computational Protein Design
  • AI/ML and Integer Optimization-driven algorithms
  • Enzyme engineering, Computational Immunology
Eric Cochran

Research Expertise

  • Biopolymers – discovery and applications
  • Circularity – chemical recycling, biodegradable materials
  • Nanostructured soft materials
Rodney Fox portrait

Rodney Fox

Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering

  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Multiphase reacting flows
  • Clean energy

Kurt Hebert

Professor

Research Expertise

  • High-energy density alkali metal batteries
  • Mathematical modeling and simulation
  • Electrochemical materials science

Research Expertise

  • Nanomaterials
  • Electrochemistry
  • Optics and spectroscopy
Laura Jarboe

Laura Jarboe

Professor, Cargill Professor in Chemical Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Robust microbial cell factories
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Antibiotic resistance
Wenzhen Li

Wenzhen Li

Professor, Herbert L. Stiles Faculty Fellow

  • CO2 capture and conversion
  • Green nitrogen fertilizers
  • Innovative paired electrolyzers

Thomas (Tom) Mansell

Associate Professor, Karen and Dennis Vaughn Faculty Fellow

  • Live biotherapeutics
  • Synthetic biology
  • Glycoengineering
Matthew Panthani portrait

Matthew Panthani

Associate Professor, Herbert L. Stiles Faculty Fellow

  • Nanomaterials for energy conversion
  • Semiconductors, electronics, and photonics
  • Material processing and manufacturing
Nigel Reuel

Nigel Reuel

Associate Professor, Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Advanced biomanufacturing
  • Industrial enzyme discovery and design
  • Cell free systems

Luke T Roling

Assistant Professor, Jack R. and Carol A. Johnson Faculty Fellow in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Computational materials design
  • Heterogeneous catalysis
  • Surface science
Brent Shanks portrait

Brent Shanks

Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering, Mike and Jean Steffenson Chair
Director, Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC)

Research Expertise

  • Biobased chemicals
  • Heterogeneous catalysis
  • Bioeconomy

Research Expertise

  • Metabolic engineering in plants and microbes
  • Metabolic flux analysis
  • Phytoremediation

Zengyi Shao

Associate Professor, Hershel B. Whitney Professor, Global Initiatives

Research Expertise

  • Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing
  • Metabolic engineering and biorenewables
  • Disease model and functional genomics

Jean-Philippe Tessonnier

Professor, Richard C. Seagrave Professor

Research Expertise

  • Heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis
  • Sustainable chemical manufacturing
  • Clean energy
Dennis Vigil portrait

Dennis Vigil

Professor and Reginald R. Baxter Endowed Department Chair

Research Expertise

  • Dispersed phase flows
  • Bioreactors
  • Simulation

Yue Wu

Professor, Herbert L. Stiles Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Research Expertise

  • Nanomaterials
  • Heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis
  • Thermal transport and management