Anthony Straub

Dr. Anthony Straub is an Assistant Professor with dual appointments in the Environmental Engineering Program and Materials Science & Engineering Program within the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research group focuses on membrane-based technologies for water purification, energy recovery, and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining CU Boulder, Dr. Straub completed his postdoctoral research at MIT and earned his Ph.D., M.Sc., and M.Phil. at Yale University.

• BS, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• PhD, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Yale University
• MSc & MPhil, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Yale University
• Postdoc, Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Straub's research spans membrane science, materials engineering, and environmental systems with a focus on developing next-generation membrane processes for water purification and energy applications. His work encompasses membrane materials development, fundamental transport phenomena, and system-scale analysis of emerging desalination and separation technologies. The research group investigates pressure-driven distillation, polymer membranes for challenging separation tasks, gas separations for carbon capture, advanced water treatment, and life support systems for space exploration.

Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong focus on molecular-scale understanding of membrane transport phenomena, particularly ion de-coordination at elevated salinity and pressure. The research demonstrates significant advancements in pressure-driven distillation, membrane wetting prevention, energy barrier characterization, and size-selective separations. These innovations are addressing critical challenges in water-energy nexus applications with potential for significant environmental impact.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (during PhD studies)
• Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (at MIT)

Dr. Straub has successfully mentored multiple graduate students through their degree programs, with recent graduates including Hannah Cairney (M.S. in Environmental Engineering, 2024) and Sangsuk Lee (Ph.D., 2023). His current research group includes Ph.D. students across Environmental Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. The research is supported by multiple federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature and significance of the work.

The Straub Research Group maintains active collaborations across engineering disciplines and engages in technology transfer initiatives through CU Boulder's Venture Partners program and I-Corps initiatives, demonstrating commitment to translating fundamental research into practical applications.