Research-Related Faculty

Investigates both inorganic and organic nanostructures. The small physical dimensions of nanostructures result in new and fascinating localized and sometimes quantized interactions. At the nano (10-9 m) level, the distinction between organic and inorganic behavior can be reduced to fundamental interactions common to both. However, very different applications are enabled by different combinations of the same fundamentals! Our group investigates two combinations, biocompatibility between organic and inorganic nanostructures, and nanocircuits for applications in harsh radiation and low temperature environments.

Processing/characterization of biomaterials for tissue engineering (bone, cartilage). Optimizing cell biomaterial interactions. Materials science: processing behavior of ceramics and ceramic composites, surface chemistry and colloidal chemistry.

Mechanical deformation of metallic materials: cold, warm and hot deformation, creep, superplasticity, high strain rate deformation, electron microscopy, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, orientation imaging microscopy (EBSP mapping); texture and microtexture, damage nucleation; crystal plasticity finite element simulations of deformation in titanium alloys, solders, intermetallics, refractory metals.

Dr. Buch's interests are in the area of concrete pavement design, rehabilitation, non-destructive testing of pavements, and composite materials. His research focuses on the development of rut and fatigue prediction models for flexible pavements design. He is involved in developing crack deterioration algorithms for rigid pavements. His other research interests include development of rehabilitation strategies, and study of recyclable materials in portland cement concrete and asphalt concrete.

Systems biology and bioinformatics, metabolic engineering, nanoparticles and drug delivery systems, cellular and tissue engineering, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases.

Experimental mechanics; optical techniques in strain measurement; fracture; fasteners; mechanics of composite materials.

Optimal design of structures and materials, topology optimization, finite element methods.

Grotjohn's research interests include the modeling, design, diagnostics, and applications of plasma-assisted materials processes and processing machines. A strong focus of his work is the use of models, including electromagnetic, plasma dynamic, and plasma chemistry models, for the design and control of microwave plasma reactors used for materials processing. Specific processes studied have included diamond chemical vapor deposition (CVD), amorphous carbon deposition, semiconductor etching, and microwave-generated plasma discharges operated as ion and radical sources. In coordination with the modeling studies are his plasma diagnostic studies. His recent work looks in particular at mini- and micro-scale plasma discharges and their application.

Carbon nanotube synthesis; chemical kinetics; reactor design; transport phenomena; enzyme kinetics; plasma reactions; electromagnetic processing of materials; petro-chemical processes; biomass conversion processes.

S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole's research interests focus on computational methods, especially computing electromagnetic fields by the finite element method. His ongoing research is in shape optimization in coupled problems - determining the location and shape of objects so as to accomplish design objects in electrothermal problems in electric machinery, eco-friendly buildings, hyperthermia treatment in oncology, etc. This work has led to a long term effort building up a modern design environment pulling together design rules with artificial intelligence, software engineering, mesh generators, matrix solvers, optimization techniques and libraries of parts and material properties. His work has also led to efforts in nondestructive evaluation and the localization of lightning hits from measurements. His work earned him the Fellow status from the IEEE (1995) and the higher doctorate, the D.Sc. degree, from University of London (1993).

Responding to the call of the IEEE to be engaged in society, he has substantial research accomplishments in the area of human rights and peace education and was a Fellow of Scholar Rescue Fund, Institute of International Education, NY and on the panel of speakers for the Scholars at Risk Network, NY.

Dr. Kutay's background and interests are primarily on experimental and numerical investigation of fundamental material behavior of asphalt pavements and granular materials. His research focuses on improvement of the AASHTO Superpave mix design, understanding and better prediction of fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements using state-of-the-art techniques such as the Viscoelastic Continuum Damage (VECD) Theory and development of tools to improve understanding of permanent deformation (rutting) characteristics of asphalt pavements. His other research interests include pavement surface characteristics such as smoothness, tire/pavement noise and splash/spray.

Advanced materials for electrochemical devices (fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, etc); impedance spectroscopy

Viscoelastic and time-dependent properties of polymers and polymeric glasses; structure-property relationships of inorganic-organic hybrid polymers and nanocomposites; processing of hybrid nano-reinforced polymer; nanostructured materials.

Wen Li received her Ph.D. degree (2008) and M.S. degree (2004) in Electrical Engineering from California Institute of Technology. Before that, she studied in Tsinghua University and received her M.S. degree in Microelectronics (2003) and B.S. degree in Material Science and Engineering (2001). Her research interests include MEMS/NEMS technologies and systems, micro sensors and actuators, biomimetic devices and systems, microfluidic and lab-on-chip systems, and microsystem integration and packaging technologies.

Heat transfer and flow phenomena in materials processing; mathematical modeling of manufacturing processes; mechanics of materials; finite element analysis; polymeric composite manufacturing; mechanics of composite materials

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Batteries, Super-Capacitors, Catalysis, Nano-Structured Composites, Finite Element Modeling, Electrochemical Modeling Defect chemistry, Surface Exchange and Bulk Transport, Mixed Ionic/Electronic Conducting Materials, Perovskites, Amorphous Materials, Sintering aids, Constrained Sintering, Heterojunctions

Warm forming; metal and composite sheet thermo-hydroforming; tube hydroforming; temperature and rate-dependent material models; polycrystalline plasticity models; temperature dependent forming limit diagrams (FLD); fracture and damage mechanics.

Nelson obtained his undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus in 2001 with honors. He completed his M.S. (2002 and PhD (2005) degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Sate University. From January 2006 to June 2011, Nelson was faculty at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, and during this time participated in several summer research programs for faculty at the Air Force Research Laboratories (2006 and 2007), National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) (2008) and the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) (2009). In 2010, Nelson was awarded the NSF Career award. His research interests are micro and nanometer-sized sensors and actuators (or transducers), characterization of smart and multifunctional materials and their integration in microsystems.

High speed machinery, composite materials, smart materials, design methodologies

Nanotechnology, nanostructured biomimetic interfaces; biochemical engineering; protein expression; fermentation engineering; multiphase biocatalysis; biobased products.