Joseph Bennett

Joseph Bennett is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he leads computational research in functional materials design. His work bridges inorganic chemistry, materials science, and computational methods to address challenges in energy, environmental sustainability, and cultural heritage preservation.

His academic background includes:

• B.S. in Chemistry, Drexel University (1998-2003)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania (2003-2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rutgers University (2010-2012)
• Research Specialist, University of Iowa (2016-2019)

Professor Bennett's research employs density functional theory (DFT), database mining, and thermodynamics to discover novel materials for energy storage, water treatment, and art conservation. His group investigates structure-property relationships across diverse material classes—including oxides, chalcogenides, and two-dimensional systems—focusing on how atomic composition and environmental conditions affect bulk and surface properties. This computationally driven approach enables targeted exploration of nature's 'missing materials' for transformative technological applications.

Analysis of his 12 recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus on two-dimensional materials, surface science, and art conservation applications. Key themes include van der Waals layered phosphochalcogenides, stability of aqueous-exfoliated nanomaterials, and molecular interactions on mineral surfaces relevant to cultural heritage. His work consistently integrates fundamental electronic structure calculations with real-world environmental and conservation challenges.

Professor Bennett actively mentors students through undergraduate research courses (CHEM 399/499) and doctoral research (CHEM 898/899), including the Baltimore SCIART virtual research program that merges computational chemistry with art conservation. His teaching portfolio spans Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 405/605), Solid State Materials Chemistry (CHEM 490/684), and laboratory instruction.

Bennett Labs, based in Meyerhoff 250, utilizes a chemically guided strategy combining periodic table elements, informatics, and DFT to map energy landscapes and stabilize intermediate structures for novel material synthesis. The lab's approach targets atomistic interactions that govern functional properties in energy, environmental, and cultural heritage contexts, with active exploration of phase transformations and tunable bonding environments.