Dr. Börte Emiroglu is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zürich, where she serves as a Researcher in the Professorship for Macromolecular Engineering. Her work focuses on biomaterials, nanomaterials, and advanced materials chemistry. She holds a position at ETH Zürich's Makromolekulares Engineering group, collaborating on projects related to hydrogel mechanics, tissue regeneration, and photocatalytic systems. Her research interests span biomaterials engineering for regenerative medicine, nanocrystal synthesis via microfluidic platforms, and the development of functional materials with tailored properties. Notably, she has contributed to studies on granular hydrogels, mixed-valent inorganic complexes, and perovskite nanocrystals for optoelectronic applications. Dr. Emiroglu’s publications highlight her expertise in materials science, with a focus on translating fundamental insights into practical applications such as drug delivery systems, high-throughput screening of biomaterials, and environmental photocatalysis. Her work bridges chemistry, physics, and engineering, addressing challenges in both academic and industrial settings.
Jens Patrick Metzger is a researcher in the Institute of Energy and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich, focusing on granular material phenomena such as fluidization and segregation. He has a background in Process Engineering and experimental research experience in particle resuspension via gas jets. Education: Bachelor in Process Engineering, Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Mosbach (2016) Master of Science, University of Stuttgart (2019), specializing in particle resuspension via impinging gas jets His work involves both experimental and simulative approaches to granular systems, with prior industrial experience at AZO (Germany) improving solid material handling technologies.
Raffaella Ocone is a Professor at Heriot-Watt University, affiliated with the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society. She holds an OBE and is a Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Her expertise spans complex systems modeling, with a focus on granular materials, multi-component systems, and carbon capture technologies. Ocone earned a Laurea (MEng) in Chemical Engineering from Università di Napoli Federico II, followed by a MA and PhD from Princeton University. Her research includes hydrodynamics of particle-laden flows, continuum lumping of multi-component systems (applied to hydrocracking and polymerization), and carbon capture via chemical looping combustion and biomass pyrolysis. Collaborations include UNICAMP (Brazil), Petrobras, Eindhoven University, and ICFAR (Canada). She led a Leverhulme Network Grant fostering UK-Canada bioenergy research. Education: Laurea (Napoli), MA/PhD (Princeton) Key Projects: Fluidized bed modeling, lignin pyrolysis kinetics, chemical looping combustion Affiliations: Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Edinburgh Recent work emphasizes sustainable technologies, including waste plastic recycling with Nextek/Sasol and biochar initiatives. Over 125 publications and 13 professional activities underscore her contributions to energy and environmental engineering.
Dr. Matthias Schröter is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Duke Kunshan University and a consultant at Hypatia - Science Consulting. His research focuses on granular physics, statistical mechanics, and imaging techniques, with emphasis on granular packing structures, fluid dynamics, and material characterization. He holds a habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) and has conducted postdoctoral research from 2015-2018. His work spans experimental and theoretical studies, including analysis of granular shear bands, X-ray tomography of particle systems, and neutron tomography for porous media. He has contributed to understanding contact networks in frictional ellipsoid packs and coarsening mechanisms in granular mixtures. His expertise includes advanced imaging methods such as superresolution microscopy and neutron tomography. Research interests include granular matter dynamics, phase transitions in granular systems, and structural analysis of amorphous materials. His publications frequently address experimental methodologies for granular media characterization and fluid dynamics in porous systems. He has advised on projects involving granular segregation, fluid flow in porous media, and thermal characterization of granular systems. His consulting work bridges academic research with industrial applications in materials science and imaging technology.
Professor Karen Hapgood is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Swinburne University of Technology. She leads research strategy and partnerships, with over 20 years of academic and industry experience in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and minerals processing. Previously, she held leadership roles including Executive Dean at Deakin University's Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment, and Dean of Engineering at Deakin. Education: PhD (Chemical Engineering) and BE (Chemical Engineering, First Class Honours) from the University of Queensland. She is a Fellow of ATSE, IChemE, RACI, and Engineers Australia, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Research focuses on wet granulation, pharmaceutical formulation, additive manufacturing, and mineral processing. Notable grants include Australian Research Council projects on particle breakage modeling, powder inhaler design, and antisolvent vapor spray drying systems. Awards highlight her expertise and leadership: Fellowships in multiple engineering societies, and recognition for advancing diversity in STEM. She actively supervises PhD research in pharmaceutical and materials engineering.
Dr. Qijun Zheng is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Monash University. His research focuses on granular matter dynamics, fluid-particle flows, and multiphase systems. Key contributions include developing continuum theories for granular materials and advancing scalable extraction technologies for lithium recovery. Collaborations span mechanical, chemical, and biomedical engineering disciplines. Research interests emphasize granular flow mechanics, particle segregation, and industrial process optimization. Notable projects include silo discharge enhancement, reactor design for chemical engineering applications, and modeling cohesive arch phenomena in storage systems. Recent work explores nanotechnology for drug delivery and sustainable energy solutions. Publications highlight contributions to granular rheology, multiphase flow modeling, and material science. Articles from 2024–2025 address topics like nanoparticle behavior at high temperatures, soft elastic reactor dynamics, and lithium extraction systems. His work aligns with UN SDGs for sustainable resource management and clean energy. No formal awards or grants are explicitly listed, though his active publication record reflects sustained academic engagement. Advising and lab/team affiliations remain unspecified in the provided data.
Richard M. Lueptow is the Senior Associate Dean at the McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University. He serves as a principal advisor to the dean, overseeing faculty hiring, space management, and research center operations. As a Professor of Mechanical Engineering since 1988, he combines leadership with research expertise in granular materials, fluid dynamics, and nanofiltration membranes. Education: B.S. in Engineering from Michigan Technological University; S.M. and Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Research focuses on granular segregation mechanisms, fluid-particle interactions, and membrane technologies for environmental applications. His work bridges fundamental physics with industrial challenges, such as optimizing particle separation and lithium recovery systems. Recent studies explore lift forces in granular flows and charge effects in nanofiltration membranes. Lueptow’s articles highlight advancements in granular flow modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and device innovations for material processing. His contributions span academia and industry, supported by grants like GOALI (Granular and Organized Applications in Learning and Innovation). He leads interdisciplinary teams advancing particulate systems dynamics and collaborates on cutting-edge projects like chaotic flow particle capture and non-segregating granular mixture design. His research emphasizes predictive modeling and real-world applications in energy, environment, and manufacturing sectors.
Noli Brazil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Ecology within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis. He received his doctorate in Demography from the University of California Berkeley in 2013 and has established himself as a prominent researcher examining neighborhood dynamics and their social consequences. Dr. Brazil's research focuses on the causes and consequences of neighborhood inequality, with particular attention to: Interactions between neighborhoods and schools Determinants of residential mobility and attainment during young adulthood Hispanic US internal migration patterns Neighborhood gentrification and place-based policies His recent work has examined how place-based improvement programs often favor gentrifying neighborhoods over those most in need, how school closures disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, and how residential mobility among young adults can decrease neighborhood poverty gaps. Dr. Brazil employs sophisticated spatial analysis techniques to understand urban mobility patterns and their social implications, with publications in journals including Urban Studies, Social Science & Medicine, and Geographical Analysis. Dr. Brazil has received media coverage for his work, including from the Wall Street Journal, and is actively involved in the academic community through organizing sessions at the Spatial Data Science Symposium on the use of granular spatial data to examine geospatial mobility in social science research.
Christoph Beckermann is the University of Iowa Foundation Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Solidification Laboratory at the University of Iowa's College of Engineering. He has been a faculty member since 1987, progressing from Assistant to full Professor in 1996, and holds one of the highest academic honors at the university. His educational background includes a Vordiplom from the University of Hannover and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He served in the German military before pursuing higher education. Beckermann's research focuses on solidification science, metal casting, thermal and fluid sciences , with strong emphasis on computational modeling of multiphase systems, heat transfer, and materials processing. His work spans from fundamental phase-field simulations to industrial-scale casting and additive manufacturing. He integrates numerical methods with experimental validation to understand microstructure evolution, inclusion dynamics, and macrosegregation. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent trend in multiscale and multiphysics modeling of solidification phenomena, combining phase-field methods with fluid dynamics, thermomechanics, and granular flow. Keywords include solidification, materials processing, computational modeling, and transport phenomena, with subfields ranging from dendritic growth to residual stress prediction in additive manufacturing. Fulbright Award (1982–84) NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989) Bruce Chalmers Award, TMS (2010) Heat Transfer Memorial Award, ASME (2017) Nagy El-Kaddah Award, TMS (2021) Founders' Choice Award, SFSA (2022) Beckermann has supervised 25 Ph.D. and 23 M.S. students , along with 12 postdocs and 20 visiting scholars. He has secured approximately $20 million in external research funding from federal and industrial sources. His editorial roles include long-term service on Metallurgical and Materials Transactions and the International Journal of Cast Metals Research . He has delivered over 60 invited seminars and 13 plenary lectures globally. He leads the Solidification Laboratory at the University of Iowa, which focuses on computational and experimental studies of solidification processes. The lab develops advanced models for inclusion transport, grain motion, and macrosegregation, with applications in steel casting, additive manufacturing, and aerospace materials.
W.J. Briels is a Full Professor in Computational Chemical Physics at the University of Twente, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics. His research spans polymer physics, soft matter, colloidal systems, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, with a strong focus on simulation and modeling. His research interests lie at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and materials science, particularly in computational modeling of soft matter systems . Key areas include: Thermophoresis and Soret effect in colloidal and electrolyte solutions Coarse-grained simulations of polymers and biomolecules Flow of complex fluids in porous media Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics and irreversible thermodynamics Dynamics of star polymers and polymer melts His recent publications (2023–2025) show a continued focus on thermal diffusion in solutions , colloidal migration under temperature gradients , and entropic effects in confined liquids . The work combines theoretical frameworks with molecular simulations, often in collaboration with experimental groups. Briels has supervised over 25 research activities and 27 student projects, indicating a strong commitment to mentoring. He has delivered numerous invited talks and keynote lectures on coarse-graining and polymer dynamics. His work has been supported by grants related to soft matter and computational physics, though specific funding sources are not detailed here. He is actively involved in collaborative networks, particularly with researchers like J.K.G. Dhont and W.K. den Otter. His lab focuses on developing and applying advanced simulation techniques to complex fluid systems, with applications in materials science and biophysics.
Dr. Deepak Dhingra is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He holds a Ph.D. from Brown University (2014) and specializes in planetary geology. His research leverages remote sensing data to study surface morphology and composition of extraterrestrial bodies, including the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn's moon Enceladus. Research Focus His work integrates spectral, imaging, and topographic data to address fundamental questions in planetary evolution. Key themes include: Lunar Geology: Mg-spinel distribution, impact crater processes, polar volatiles. Planetary Surface Dynamics: Boulder falls, granular segregation on asteroids. Methodological Innovation: Machine learning applications for mineral mapping and data filtering. Mission Involvement Chandrayaan-1: Scientist at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. Chandrayaan-2: Science team member for NASA/JPL/Brown University's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³). Academic Activities He actively recruits PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for planetary science projects. His interdisciplinary approach bridges geology, data science, and space mission operations. Additional Contributions Beyond research, he engages in science communication through articles, blogs, and outreach initiatives focused on lunar exploration.
Anurag Tripathi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, specializing in the modeling and simulation of complex fluid systems and granular materials. His research bridges fundamental fluid dynamics with practical applications in particulate processing and handling. Education: PhD, IIT Bombay (2011), Thesis Title: Rheology and Segregation of Granular Mixtures B.Tech, IIT Bombay (2005) Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh (2012-2013) Professor Tripathi's research focuses on the intricate behavior of complex fluids and granular materials, with particular emphasis on rheological properties, segregation phenomena, and computational modeling techniques. His work combines theoretical approaches with practical applications in industrial processing systems. The research spans from fundamental studies of granular flow dynamics to bio-inspired fluid systems involving cilia mechanics. His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on granular physics and complex fluid dynamics, with particular attention to computational approaches for modeling multiphase systems. The research trajectory shows progression from fundamental granular flow studies to more complex bio-inspired fluid systems, indicating an expanding research scope that integrates multiple disciplines. Scientific awards and honors: Award of Excellence in Ph.D. Thesis in the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay (2009-2011) Travel grant from American Physical Society-Division of Fluid Dynamics for 63rd Annual Meeting (2010) Best oral presentation award at Research Scholar Symposium, IIT Bombay (2010) Best oral presentation award at ChEmference09, IIT Madras (2009) Professor Tripathi has established himself as a researcher with strong theoretical foundations in fluid mechanics and granular physics, with growing impact in both academic and industrial applications. His collaborations with researchers at institutions like the University of Pittsburgh and his work with prominent scientists including A.C. Balazs and D.V. Khakhar demonstrate his integration into the international research community. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the available materials, his publication record and awards suggest successful research funding. His research group at IIT Kanpur focuses on computational modeling of complex fluid systems, utilizing advanced simulation techniques to investigate granular flow behavior, particle-fluid interactions, and bio-inspired fluid dynamics. The research has practical applications in industrial processing, materials handling, and potentially biomedical engineering contexts.
Sylvain Martin is a Lecturer and Researcher at MINES Saint-Étienne's Centre for Chemical Engineering, affiliated with the Powder Science and Technology (PMMG) department. His academic background includes a PhD and Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from Université de Technologie de Compiègne. His research focuses on numerical simulation of granular and porous media using particle methods: DEM : Simulating dry powders and mixing processes SPH : Modeling free-surface flows and atomization LBM : Analyzing reactive flows in porous materials Dr. Martin teaches core engineering subjects including Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, and Computational Methods. His recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on advancing simulation methodologies for industrial applications like powder mixing optimization, sintering validation, and granular material characterization. Research frequently involves interdisciplinary collaboration with materials scientists and process engineers.
