Ralm Ricarte

Ralm Ricarte is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical & Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering departments at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2016) and a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin (2011). His postdoctoral research included Marie Curie and PRESTIGE Fellowships at ESPCI Paris (2017–2019).

Ricarte’s research focuses on functional polymer materials, particularly vitrimers and polymerization-induced encapsulation. His lab explores applications in energy storage, medicine, and advanced materials via techniques like cryogenic electron microscopy, scattering (X-rays, neutrons, light), and rheology. Current projects include vitrimer gels for battery electrolytes and self-assembled nanoparticles for drug delivery.

He leads the Ricarte Lab, mentoring graduate students (Ph.D. and M.S.) and undergraduates in chemical engineering and biomedical fields. Notable awards include the Excellence in Graduate Student Research (2024) and CAREER Award for vitrimer gel research (2022). The lab actively recruits students and researchers interested in polymer science and engineering.

Key collaborations involve scalable polymer synthesis and advanced material characterization. Ricarte’s work bridges fundamental polymer physics with applied engineering solutions, emphasizing interdisciplinary innovation.