James D. Batteas

Dr. James D. Batteas is the Regents Professor and D. Wayne Goodman Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, and Director of the NSF Center for the Mechanical Control of Chemistry. He holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin (1990), a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (1995), and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University. His work focuses on nanoscale materials, nanotribology, and mechanochemistry, emphasizing molecular-level control of surfaces and interfaces for energy and technology applications.

Research areas include designing nanoscale devices, studying friction at atomic scales, and leveraging mechanical forces for sustainable chemical synthesis. His lab employs advanced techniques like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and molecular dynamics simulations. Notable achievements include the NSF CCI Center ($20M grant) and awards such as the Royal Society of Chemistry Fellowship (2012) and Texas A&M’s Distinguished Achievement Award (2013).

Teaching responsibilities include CHEM 623: Surface Chemistry and multiple undergraduate/graduate courses. His group has produced influential publications on graphene, quantum dots, and mechanochemical reactions, with over 150 cited works. Collaborations span Sandia National Labs, Boeing, and Dow Chemical.