Scott Calabrese Barton

Dr. Scott Calabrese Barton is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on electrochemical engineering, catalysis, and materials for energy systems, particularly fuel cells and bioelectrocatalytic processes. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University (1999), an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from MIT (1991), and a B.A. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame (1989).

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Columbia University (1999)
  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1991)
  • B.A., Aerospace Engineering, University of Notre Dame (1989)

His research group develops advanced materials and computational models for electrochemical systems, emphasizing sustainable energy solutions. Key areas include:

• Electrochemical hydrogenation of biomass
• Molecular dynamics simulations of substrate channeling in enzymatic cascades
• Nanomaterial design for efficient catalytic reactions
• Process intensification via nanoscale confinement

Recent work includes studies on zinc-catalyzed biomass conversion, electrostatic channeling mechanisms in enzyme systems, and the design of bioelectrochemical interfaces. His team collaborates widely, with projects funded by NSF, DOE, and industry partners.

He advises a dynamic group of graduate and undergraduate researchers, including recent students Yan Xie (Ph.D., 2023), Kanchan Chavan (Ph.D., 2020), and Christina Wark (current Ph.D. candidate). His lab is located in the Engineering Building, with active participation in conferences like the Electrochemical Society meetings.