Michael Howard

Michael Howard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Auburn University, specializing in computational modeling of soft materials and colloidal systems with applications in coatings, nanomaterials, and drug delivery.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University

His research spans colloidal science, soft matter physics, and computational modeling, focusing on dynamics and assembly of colloidal particles in drying suspensions and confined environments. Using molecular dynamics and mesoscale simulations, his group investigates nanoparticle gelation, polymer-colloid interactions, and supraparticle formation. This work bridges fundamental physics with engineering applications in sustainable manufacturing and advanced materials design.

Recent publications demonstrate a strong computational focus on hydrodynamic interactions, phase behavior of nanoparticle systems, and particle shape effects in self-assembly. The research integrates theoretical modeling with practical challenges in material science, emphasizing resource efficiency and novel material properties.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award

Dr. Howard secured a $430K NSF grant for colloidal supraparticles research and serves as co-PI on an $887K FTA project optimizing zero-emission bus materials. He actively mentors graduate students within Auburn's chemical engineering program, which emphasizes research excellence and academic success through structured mentorship.

His research group utilizes high-performance computing to develop predictive models for soft material design, with current efforts focused on inverse methods for material assembly and machine learning applications in nanoscale systems.