Aaron Socha

Aaron Socha is an Associate Professor in the Biology & Chemistry Department at Queens University, within the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the University of Rhode Island and completed postdoctoral training at Sandia National Lab and Brown University. His research integrates chemistry and sustainability, focusing on green solvents, biomass conversion, and renewable fuels.

Research Interests: Dr. Socha's work lies at the intersection of green chemistry and sustainable energy. He investigates the synthesis of ionic liquids from natural products like lignin, aiming to develop eco-friendly solvents for biomass processing. His lab engineers chemical and biological systems to convert waste and biomass into fuels and value-added chemicals. He also promotes sustainability education through interdisciplinary curriculum development.

Publication Trends: His recent publications emphasize the design and application of lignin-derived ionic liquids for biomass pretreatment and cellulose dissolution. Themes include statistical process optimization, waste valorization, and sustainable solvent engineering, reflecting a strong trend toward circular economy principles and renewable feedstocks.

• US Dept of Energy Technology Commercialization Fund (2018–2022): $500,000, co-PI – Lignin-Derived Ionic Liquids for Biopolymer Processing
• National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education (2016–2021): $899,744, PI – Chemical and BioEnergy Technology for Sustainability
• National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (2014–2016): $50,000, PI – Bionic Liquids
• CUNY 2020 Challenge Grant (2014–2020): $9,000,000, PI – Sustainable Fuel and Product Development in NYC

Advising and Grants: Dr. Socha actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research, co-authoring multiple publications with them. He has secured significant grant funding as PI or co-PI from federal agencies, demonstrating strong leadership in advancing sustainable technology. His projects combine academic research with commercialization potential, particularly in green chemistry and energy innovation.

Labs and Teams: He collaborates with the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab as a scientific research affiliate and leads a multidisciplinary research group at Queens focused on sustainable chemical systems. His team integrates synthetic chemistry, process engineering, and environmental analysis to develop next-generation biorefining technologies.