Find Academic Supervisors

Alexei P. SokolovView profile

Professor

• Polymer Science
• Soft Materials Dynamics
• Glass Transition
• +7 more

Alexei P. Sokolov is the UT-ORNL Governor's Chair and Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Tennessee, with a joint appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He leads the Soft Materials and Membranes group at ORNL and holds an adjunct professorship at Georgia Tech. Sokolov earned his M.S. in Physics from Novosibirsk State University (1981) and his Ph.D./Dr.Sci. from the Russian Academy of Sciences (1986/1993). His research focuses on: Dynamics of soft materials (glass transition, polymer dynamics) Design of functional polymers for energy/sustainability Solid-state batteries and carbon-capture materials Self-healing/recyclable polymers and vitrimers Recent publications emphasize polymer electrolytes, vitrimer mechanics, composite materials, and sustainable polymer design. His work consistently integrates fundamental physics with applications in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Honors: Fellow, American Physical Society Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Member, National Academy of Inventors He advises ~30 researchers and has secured grants for projects on polymer electrolytes (DOE), sustainable composites (NSF), and battery technologies. His lab develops experimental tools for materials characterization and collaborates with national labs/industry.

Yet-Ming ChiangView profile

Professor

• Energy Storage
• Batteries
• Electrification of Transportation
• +4 more

Yet-Ming Chiang is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Co-Director of the Center for Electrification and Decarbonization of Industry (CEDI). He holds over 110 patents and has authored more than 300 scientific articles, focusing on energy storage, battery technology, and decarbonization solutions. Chiang’s research has led to the creation of eight climate-focused startups, including Form Energy (iron-air batteries) and Sublime Systems (low-carbon cement), collectively raising over $2.5 billion in funding. His work spans batteries, electric aviation, and industrial decarbonization, aiming to address global climate challenges through scalable technologies. Education: Ph.D. in Ceramics from MIT (1985), joined MIT faculty and achieved tenure at 32. Research Group: ~25 members including graduate students and postdocs. Key Projects: Electrochemical materials for energy storage, novel battery architectures, and sustainable industrial processes. Notable Contributions: Pioneered high-capacity battery systems, developed low-cost decarbonization technologies, and advanced materials science for renewable energy integration. His startups include Form Energy (long-duration energy storage), Sublime Systems (green cement), and Propel Aero (electric aircraft engines). Chiang serves as Chief Science Officer in several ventures and actively pursues innovations in critical minerals extraction and geologic hydrogen. His research emphasizes electrifying industrial processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, leveraging materials science for sustainable solutions.

• Wearable Technology
• E-textiles
• Sensor Technology
• +7 more

Dr. Rebecca Stewart is a Senior Lecturer in the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London, with affiliations to the e-Body Lab and the Human Behaviour and Experience Network. Previously, she held positions at Queen Mary University of London in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. Her research focuses on wearable technology, audio interfaces, and textile-based sensors, emphasizing accessibility and interdisciplinary collaboration. She leads the e-Body Lab, which develops innovative e-textiles and explores their integration into design and healthcare applications. Education: PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (2006–2010). Her academic roles include Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London (2023–present) and prior Lecturer positions (2016–2023). Research interests span e-textiles, sensor technology, and human-computer interaction, with notable projects like the STELEC initiative and graphene-based wearable sensors. Key contributions include advancements in durable, UV-resistant sensors and collaborations with textile designers to integrate technology into creative practices. Her work bridges engineering, design, and healthcare, addressing challenges in sustainability and user-centric design.

Kara FongView profile

Assistant Professor

• Electrochemical Systems
• Sustainable Energy Storage
• Water Treatment
• +3 more

Kara Fong is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. She joined Caltech in June 2025 after serving as a Schmidt Science Fellow and Trinity College Junior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Her PhD (2022) from UC Berkeley focused on ion transport theory in Li-ion batteries. Her research integrates molecular simulations and statistical mechanics to study electrochemical systems, emphasizing sustainable energy storage (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors) and water treatment processes like desalination. The Fong Lab uses multi-scale approaches, combining molecular dynamics, quantum chemistry, and machine learning to address fundamental questions in ion transport and electrochemical interface behavior. Recent work highlights include investigating proton behavior at graphene-water interfaces, surface charging in hexagonal boron nitride, and ion pairing in nanoconfined electrolytes. These studies contribute to improving battery performance and water purification technologies. Dr. Fong has received the Battery Division Student Research Award (2020) and actively contributes to pedagogical innovations, including improving graduate teaching courses to enhance inclusive education practices. Her lab’s interdisciplinary focus bridges computational theory with practical applications in clean energy and environmental science.

Kristin PerssonView profile

Professor

• Materials Science
• Computational Chemistry
• Energy Storage
• +3 more

Kristin Persson is the Daniel M. Tellep Distinguished Professor in Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She directs the Materials Project , a multi-institutional initiative using high-throughput computing to predict inorganic material properties for energy applications. Her research bridges computational physics, chemistry, and machine learning to accelerate materials discovery. Research Focus: Persson's group develops atomistic computational methods for clean energy materials, specializing in: Battery technologies (lithium-ion, multivalent, solid-state) Data mining and machine learning for materials property prediction Electrolyte design and interfacial reactions Sustainable material circularity (e.g., polymer recycling) Her work emphasizes predictive modeling to guide experimental synthesis. Publication Trends: Recent articles (2023–2025) demonstrate: Dominant focus on battery materials (cathodes, electrolytes) and computational methods. Integration of machine learning for property prediction and reaction modeling. Themes of sustainability (recycling, earth-abundant materials) and high-throughput screening. Awards & Honors: National Academy of Engineering Member (2025) U.S. DOE Distinguished Scientist Fellow (2024) Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Foreign Member (2024) Cyril Stanley Smith Award (2022) Fellow: AAAS, APS, Materials Research Society Research Infrastructure: Leads the Persson Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's Energy Sciences Area. The group maintains open-source databases (e.g., Materials Project) and collaborates globally with experimentalists to validate computational predictions.

Joe BaioView profile

Assistant Professor

• Surface Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Material Science
• +5 more

Joe Baio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University. His research focuses on understanding chemical interactions between biological surfaces and their environments using advanced surface analytical techniques. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2011. His lab develops methods to characterize biomaterial interfaces, including studies of protein orientation, lipid membrane interactions, and bio-inspired materials like gecko adhesion systems. Key research interests include surface chemistry, biomaterials, nanotechnology, and biomineralization. Recent work explores molecular boundary lubricants in snakeskin, diatom biomineralization mechanisms, and nanoparticle-cell interactions. Collaborations span material science, biomedical engineering, and environmental chemistry. Notable contributions include studies on surface-functionalized nanomaterials, bio-inspired adhesives, and analytical techniques such as ToF-SIMS, NEXAFS, and SFG spectroscopy. His group has published extensively on lipid-protein interactions, biomedical surface modifications, and energy storage materials. Advises graduate students Elliott Fowler and Thaddeus Golbek. Future work aims to advance surface engineering for medical devices, sustainable energy systems, and environmental monitoring through biomimetic approaches.

AdamView profile

Visiting Professor

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Innovation
• +3 more

Adam is a globally recognized academic and industry leader in Health Informatics, holding multiple faculty roles across prestigious institutions. He serves as Visiting Professor at Taipei Medical University, Honorary Professor at Swansea University Medical School, and holds adjunct positions at Nanyang Technological University, Hong Kong University, and others. His primary affiliation is with the National University of Singapore, where he leads the Smart Health Leadership Centre and contributes to the MSc Biomedical Informatics programme. His work emphasizes digital transformation in healthcare, stakeholder empowerment, and sustainable innovation in patient-centered care. Adam's research focuses on bridging the eHealth divide through curriculum development and stakeholder collaboration. He has pioneered initiatives like the Mini-HI™ program to address silo-based training limitations. His academic roles include supervising scholarly projects at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and leading research in healthcare management education. His recent publications span advanced battery technologies, with a focus on solid-state electrolytes, materials science, and energy storage solutions. Though the Mini-HI™ bio emphasizes his Health Informatics contributions, his academic output also extends into materials innovation. Adam advises institutions globally on healthcare informatics and serves on technical committees for certifications like CPHIMS (HIMSS). His advisory roles include the Healthcare Advisory Group at Nanyang Business School and leadership in international training programs.

Volker BlumView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Materials Science
• Electronic Applications
• Energy Materials
• +4 more

Volker Blum is the Rooney Family Associate Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University, with additional appointments as Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure in the Pratt School of Engineering and Associate Professor of Chemistry. He leads the 'Ab initio materials simulations' group, focusing on computational materials science using quantum mechanical principles to predict material properties from atomic scales upwards. Education: PhD from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2001). Research interests center on First-principles prediction of material properties Interface and nanoscale systems for electronic applications Energy conversion materials Molecular structure and spectroscopy Novel semiconductor development Publications emphasize computational methods, perovskite materials, and electronic structure theory. Recent works focus on quantum phenomena in perovskites, efficient computation methods, and materials design principles. Awards: Not documented in provided sources. Research leadership includes Principal Investigator for NSF and DOE grants: DMREF: Hybrid Materials for Superfluorescent Quantum Emitters (NSF, 2023-2027) REU SITE: Nanoscale Detectives (NSF, 2021-2025) Defect-Resistant Multinary Chalcogenides (DOE, 2019-2025) Lab: Heads the Ab Initio Materials Simulations (AIMS) group at Duke.

Jochen StahnView profile

Researcher

• Neutron Scattering
• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• +5 more

Dr. Jochen Stahn is an Instrument Scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland, leading the AMOR reflectometer facility. He specializes in neutron scattering techniques for studying advanced materials, with a focus on thin films, magnetic systems, and energy storage materials. His research spans topics such as magnetic proximity effects in superconductors/ferromagnet multilayers, lithium ion battery materials, and interface engineering in nanostructured systems. He has pioneered developments in neutron optics including the Selene guide concept for enhanced reflectometry. Key contributions include in-situ neutron reflectometry studies of thin film growth mechanisms, magnetic domain structure analysis, and neutron instrumentation advancements. His work integrates materials characterization with fundamental physics insights, addressing challenges in energy materials and spintronics. Dr. Stahn has collaborated with international teams on ESS instrument development and led projects in neutron beam focusing systems. His research outputs include over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with emphasis on structural and dynamic properties of complex materials at the nanoscale.

Venkat R. SubramanianView profile

Professor

• Advanced Materials Science and Engineering
• Complex Systems
• Electrochemical Engineering
• +3 more

Professor Venkat R. Subramanian holds the Ernest Dashiell Cockrell II Professorship in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the Cockrell School of Engineering. He specializes in advanced materials science, complex systems, and electrochemical engineering, with a focus on battery technology and model-based design. His research group develops next-generation energy storage systems, particularly in lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries, emphasizing safety, longevity, and efficiency. He has pioneered fast-impedance simulation methods and robust solvers for battery models, improving battery life by 2x in 18Ah cells through model-based charging profiles. Education: B.Tech. in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), India (1997); Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina (2001). Research Interests: Advanced battery management systems (BMS), capacity fade mechanisms, phase-field modeling, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and model-based design for next-gen energy storage. His work bridges fundamental science and engineering applications, addressing challenges in battery degradation, thermal management, and multi-scale modeling. Key Awards: Elected ECS Fellow; Past Chair of IEEE Division (Electrochemical Society); Past Technical Editor of Electrochemical Society; Past Chair of Area 1e: Electrochemical Engineering (AIChE). Lab Affiliation: M.A.P.L.E. Lab (Modeling and Analysis of Processes in Lithium Electrochemistry), focused on high-energy batteries for clean energy grids and transportation. The lab’s innovations include the fastest battery simulators and IP-protected solvers, contributing to safer and more efficient energy storage systems.

Michael EikerlingView profile

Professor

• Electrochemical Engineering
• Material Science
• Computational Modeling
• +5 more

Prof. Michael Eikerling is a Professor at the Institute of Energy Technologies (IET) of Forschungszentrum Jülich , leading the group "Theory and computational modeling of materials in energy engineering (IET-3)" . His research focuses on computational modeling of electrochemical interfaces, fuel cell materials, and energy storage systems. Key areas include proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, ionomer-catalyst interactions, and degradation mechanisms in electrochemical devices. He holds a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat.) and has authored over 100 publications since 2021, with a strong emphasis on electrocatalysis, computational fluid dynamics, quantum annealing for battery optimization, and impedance spectroscopy diagnostics. His work bridges theoretical models (e.g., variational functional theory) with experimental validation, addressing challenges like water management in PEMFCs and stability of electrocatalysts. Recent projects include developing AI-driven tools for materials analysis ( UTILE framework) and investigating high-entropy solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries. Michael collaborates across disciplines, integrating computational chemistry, materials science, and engineering to advance clean energy technologies. His group's expertise spans from atomistic simulations to large-scale device modeling.

Li YangView profile

Professor

• Risk Management
• Energy and Commodity Markets
• Financial Modelling
• +3 more

Professor Li Yang is a faculty member at the University of New South Wales , affiliated with the UNSW Business School and the School of Banking and Finance . She holds a professorship and has served as Head of School from 2019 to 2022. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and BSc/MSc degrees from Tsinghua University. Her research interests center on risk management , energy and commodity markets , and financial modeling . She has published in leading journals such as Management Science and Energy Economics , with a focus on futures trading, hedging strategies, and volatility estimation. Professor Yang has secured significant research funding , including two Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grants and one ARC Linkage Grant . These grants support projects like "Investment Irreversibility, Policy Uncertainty, and Hedging Strategies" and "Information Content of Order Flows in the Foreign Exchange and Commodities Markets." She actively supervises Ph.D. students and teaches courses such as FINS 5513 , FINS 3635 , and FINS 5535 . While her scientific awards are not explicitly listed, her grants and publications highlight her contributions to finance and risk management.

Neeraj SharmaView profile

Associate Professor

• Solid State Chemistry
• Materials Chemistry
• Battery Technology
• +6 more

Professor Neeraj Sharma is an Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow at the School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney . His research focuses on Solid State Chemistry and Materials Chemistry , particularly for Battery Technology and Energy Storage . He employs advanced characterization techniques like Neutron Scattering , X-ray Diffraction , and Solid-State NMR to study material properties under real-world conditions. PhD, University of Sydney BSc (Advanced) Honours 1A, University of Sydney Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching, UNSW Sydney Research Interests include designing novel materials for Sodium-ion , Lithium-ion , and Potassium-ion batteries , with a focus on In Situ Studies , Zero Thermal Expansion Materials , and New Ionic Conductors . His work bridges exploratory synthesis, structural determination, and device integration. Recent Publications highlight advancements in alkali-ion battery electrodes, recycling strategies, and structural tuning for enhanced performance. Key trends involve Operando Characterization , Doping Effects , and Nanostructuring to optimize energy storage systems. Scientific Awards : NSW Premiers Prize (2019), Australian Synchrotron Research Award (2018), RACI Rennie Medal (2018), UNSW Postgraduate Supervisor Award (2017), Tall Poppy Award (2013) Grants include major funding from ARC Future Fellowship (2021–2024), CRC Projects , and Linkage Programs for materials like Nanoporous MOFs and Hydrogen Storage Systems . He supervises PhD students such as Matthew Teusner, Michael Fenech, and Emily Cheung.

• Electrochemistry
• Electrochemical Energy Conversion
• Energy Storage
• +6 more

Dr. Stephen Creager is a Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson University, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Science. He leads research in electrochemical energy conversion and storage, focusing on fuel cells, lithium batteries, and ion transport through graphene-based membranes. Education : BS (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1982), PhD (University of North Carolina, 1987) His research explores electrochemical mechanisms in energy systems, including redox-active interfaces and computational modeling of electron transfer. Recent work emphasizes proton conductivity in 2D materials and sustainable ionomer composites. Key trends in his publications include graphene applications for selective ion transport, lignin-based energy materials, and advanced membrane engineering for redox flow batteries. Scientific Awards : Battery Division Research Award Address (2018), Battery Division Technology Award Addresses (2018) Dr. Creager has advised over 30 graduate students, published more than 150 peer-reviewed works, and served as a consultant in electrochemical science since 1996. His lab collaborates on ionomer composites and computational simulations for energy applications.

Kristin PerssonView profile

Professor

• Materials Science
• Computational Materials Design
• Battery Materials
• +7 more

Kristin Persson is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also serves as Director of the Molecular Foundry. She is a Faculty Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, based in the Energy Sciences Area (ESA). Her research focuses on computational materials science for energy applications, leading the internationally recognized Persson Group and the Materials Project initiative. Professor Persson's research interests center on applying atomistic and first-principles computational methods coupled with high-performance computing and machine learning to advance materials for clean energy production and storage. Her group specializes in designing novel photocatalysts, multi-valent battery electrode materials, Li-ion battery electrode materials, polar materials, and liquid electrolytes. The Materials Project, which she directs, is a multi-national effort to compute the properties of all inorganic materials and provide this data and associated analysis algorithms free of charge, with the ultimate goal of drastically reducing the time needed to invent new materials for societal needs. Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward data-driven materials discovery, with significant focus on battery materials (particularly zinc-ion and lithium-ion systems), sustainable materials design, and the development of computational frameworks for materials prediction. There's a clear emphasis on machine learning applications in materials science, as well as growing interest in circular economy approaches for materials and chemical recycling. Member of the National Academy of Engineers (NAE) 2024 Distinguished Scientist Fellow by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science Foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Fellow of the Materials Research Society Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) Cyril Stanley Smith Award recipient Recognized by Web of Science as top 1% highly cited researcher Professor Persson has mentored numerous graduate students and postdocs, many of whom have received prestigious fellowships and awards. Her research is supported by significant grants from the Department of Energy, including through the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) and the Electrolyte Genome project. She has led several major computational initiatives that have been recognized with the Secretary of Energy Honor Award. The Persson Group operates within the Energy Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, collaborating closely with the Molecular Foundry (which she directs) and maintaining strong connections with experimental groups at JCAP (Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis) and other DOE-funded centers. The group follows a public group handbook that emphasizes collaborative research practices and open science principles.