Sophia N. Suarez

Sophia N. Suarez is an Associate Dean and Professor in the Physics Department at Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She is affiliated with the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and maintains her office in Ingersoll Hall (room 2157e) with laboratory space in rooms 239, 245, and 247.

Dr. Suarez earned her B.A./M.A. in Physics from Hunter College in 1998 and her Ph.D. in Physics (Condensed Matter) from the Graduate School & University Center of CUNY in 2004. Following her doctoral studies, she completed a two-and-a-half-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Chemistry Division of the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, as a National Research Council (NRC) fellow.

Her research focuses on characterizing ions and molecules interactions and transport in materials for electrochemical devices such as non-lithium ion batteries and proton conducting fuel cells. She specializes in studying deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, conducting polymers, and gas hydrates using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques. Her laboratory employs variable temperature, pressure, and frequency 1D NMR to investigate heterogeneous dynamics in electrolytic materials.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on energy storage materials, particularly deep eutectic solvents for battery applications, proton transport in fuel cell membranes, and ionic liquid composites. Her work bridges fundamental science with practical applications in sustainable energy technologies, with increasing focus on alternative battery chemistries beyond lithium-ion systems.

• Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Career Enhancement Award (2011, $30,000)
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Stay at Helmholtz Institute Ulm (2017)
• Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences grant ($624,000 for 3 years)
• NSF DMR SSMC RAPID grant ($200,000, 2020-2021)

Dr. Suarez actively mentors students in her laboratory, which currently includes one doctoral student, two undergraduates, and four high school students. She has received multiple grants specifically designed to promote underrepresented minority participation in STEM research. Her laboratory work spans fundamental characterization of materials to applied research with potential commercial applications in energy storage technologies.