Vibha Kalra

Vibha Kalra is the Fred H. Rhodes Professor in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University and serves as the Kathy Dwyer Marble and Curt Marble Faculty Director at Cornell Atkinson, leading Accelerating Energy Transitions initiatives. Previously the George B. Francis Professor at Drexel University, she began her academic career there as an assistant professor in 2010 after completing her PhD at Cornell.

Education:

• B.S. Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2004)
• Ph.D. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University (2009)

Research Focus:
Her research integrates material assembly, electrochemical characterization, and in-operando spectroscopy to develop advanced energy storage systems. Primary areas include:

• Design of novel electrode materials and electrolyte additives
• Fundamental studies of electrochemical mechanisms via in-operando spectroscopy
• Device-scale testing of batteries at coin cell and pouch cell levels
• Sustainable battery recycling and regeneration technologies
• Development of lithium-sulfur, solid-state, and anode-free batteries

Awards and Honors:

• NSF CAREER Award (2012)
• ONR Summer Faculty Fellowship (2013)
• AIChE DVS Outstanding Faculty Award (2015)
• Drexel CBE Outstanding Service Award (2018)
• Drexel Engineering Outstanding Research Awards (2015, 2020)
• Drexel Provost Mid-Career Research Achievement Award (2020)
• Drexel Engineering Innovation Award (2021)
• ELATES Fellowship (2022-2023)

With over 65 peer-reviewed publications and 13 patents, her work significantly advances battery technology through fundamental insights into electrode-electrolyte interfaces, sulfur cathode stabilization, and novel material architectures.