Tonya Kuhl

Tonya Kuhl is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Davis, where she also serves as Co-Director of the UC Davis Coffee Center. Her research focuses on colloidal science and self-assembly, with particular expertise in direct measurements of interactions at biological membranes, polymer thin films, and nanoparticle interfaces. She utilizes advanced techniques including high-resolution force spectroscopy and x-ray/neutron scattering to study confined fluids and interfacial phenomena.

Her research interests span colloidal systems, interfacial science, polymer coatings, nanomaterials, and the physics of confined fluids. The Kuhl group investigates fundamental interactions in diverse systems from surfactants to proteins, with applications in materials design and biological processes.

Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on microfluidic crystallography techniques, biosensor development using polymer films, coffee science applications in engineering education, and advanced characterization methods for nanomaterials. This work consistently bridges fundamental interfacial science with practical applications in biomedicine, materials engineering, and analytical technology.

Dr. Kuhl leads an active research group at UC Davis and collaborates extensively with national laboratories for specialized scattering studies. Her educational innovations include developing popular courses that use coffee brewing to teach chemical engineering principles.