Melissa Pasquinelli

Melissa Pasquinelli is a Professor at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the Department of Forest Biomaterials Engineering within the College of Natural Resources. Her research focuses on multiscale modeling of soft materials, particularly investigating how molecular structures and dynamics influence material properties across nanoscale, microscopic, and macroscopic scales. Key areas include nanotoxicology, polymer surfaces, and sustainable materials design. She leads the Multiscale Modeling from the Nanoscale laboratory, emphasizing applications in health safety, interfacial science, and green chemistry.

Her work integrates computational techniques such as molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry to predict material behavior under varying environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, solvent effects). Major projects span adaptive fibers, polymer nanocomposites, and health-related studies on nanomaterial toxicity. Funding sources include the U.S. EPA, The Nonwovens Institute, and industry partners like Eastman Chemical Company.

Dr. Pasquinelli also contributes to educational innovations, promoting active learning and technology integration in engineering education. She has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work addressing topics like polymer degradation, nanocomposite interfaces, and eco-friendly flame retardants. Her lab collaborates with industry to translate research into practical solutions for material durability and sustainability.