Sarah Watzman

Sarah Watzman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, leading the Energy Conversion Materials Laboratory. She holds a PhD, MS, and BS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University (2013–2018). Her research focuses on thermomagnetic and thermoelectric transport in topological materials like Weyl semimetals, emphasizing applications in waste-heat recovery and solid-state cooling. Key contributions include studies of the Nernst effect in YbMnBi2 and NbP, leveraging Berry curvature effects. She has secured over $820K in NSF grants, including a CAREER Award for investigating anisotropic charge transport in topological materials. Notable recognitions include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and Society of Women Engineers awards. Her work spans collaborations with institutions like the Max Planck Institute and Battelle Memorial Institute, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications. She actively participates in academic service, including roles in professional societies and journal reviewing.

Education:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University (2018)
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University (2016)
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University (2013)

Research Interests: Her work integrates quantum phenomena such as Berry curvature and topological effects to enhance thermoelectric efficiency. She explores materials like Weyl semimetals and antiferromagnets for applications in energy conversion and spintronics. Recent studies highlight doping strategies to optimize magnetothermoelectric properties and interface-free exchange bias mechanisms for energy-generating devices.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2023–2030): $164,754
• DOE Grant (2019–2024): $750,000
• NSF MRI Grant (2023–2026): $269,769
• Over 10 active/granted awards totaling >$1.2M

Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Energy Conversion Materials Lab at UC, collaborating with national labs and universities on projects like X-ray spectroscopy instrumentation (NSF MRI) and spintronic logic devices. Active in training via NSF REU programs focused on zero-emission technologies.