Jonathan P. Mathews

Jonathan P. Mathews is a Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, specializing in coal science and technology. He holds the title of ACS Fellow and leads research on coal structure, atomistic modeling, and carbon materials. His work focuses on the relationship between coal structure and behavior, including applications in coalbed methane, CO₂ sequestration, and carbon product development. He teaches courses on energy science, environmental energy systems, and oversees the Penn State Coal Research and Sample Banks.

Education: Ph.D. in Fuel Science from Penn State (1998). Research interests include molecular modeling of coal/char/soot, advanced analytical techniques, and collaborations with institutions globally. He has authored over 95 journal articles and developed software tools like Fringe3D for structural analysis.

His research highlights include: atomistic representations of coal for combustion/gasification studies, microwave applications for coal processing, and structural characterization of coal macerals. Awards include recognition as an ACS Fellow. Advises students in energy and mineral engineering, focusing on coal science, and collaborates with national labs and international partners.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Penn State Coal Research Group, advancing computational and experimental methods in coal science. His work bridges geoscience, materials science, and energy engineering, addressing sustainable energy challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.