Francisco Hung

Francisco Hung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University. He holds a PhD from North Carolina State University and has held prior faculty positions at Louisiana State University and Venezuela’s Universidad Simón Bolívar. His research focuses on molecular modeling and simulation of interfacial systems, with applications in separations, energy storage, and environmental chemistry. Key interests include ionic liquids, nanoporous materials, and biomaterials.

Education:

• BS and MS in Chemical Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar (1996, 1999)
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University (2005)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005-2007)

Research Interests:

• Molecular dynamics simulations of liposomes and hydrophobins
• Applications of ionic liquids in separations and energy systems
• Environmental fate of oil spills and aerosolization mechanisms

His work bridges computational and experimental approaches, with recent studies on ultra-deformable liposomes and shale hydration inhibitors.

Key Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2013)
• ACS Petroleum Research Fund Grant (2018-2021)
• Northeastern’s Richard Sioui Teaching Award (2018)

Advising & Grants:

• Advised PhD students Vyshnavi Karra and Jiaming Xu
• Lead PI on NSF CAREER grant ($600k+)
• Active in AIChE leadership (Thermodynamics committees, 2011-2018)

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with Northeastern’s interdisciplinary teams in energy systems and biomaterials, leveraging molecular simulation tools to advance practical applications.