Professor CHEN Wei (National University of Singapore) holds the Provost's Chair Professorship (2023-2026) and serves as Vice-Dean (Research) with joint appointments in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. His research focuses on molecular-scale interface engineering for 2D materials-based devices and interface-controlled nanocatalysis in energy/environmental applications. PhD in Material Science, NUS (2004) Lee Kuan Yew Research Fellow (2006-2008) Established Surface and Interface Lab (2009) Director, NUS Research Institute (Fuzhou) His work on 2D optoelectronic memory (Nat. Comm. 2018), Kagome lattice design (Nano Lett. 2020), and single-atom catalysis (Nat. Comm. 2021) has been recognized by multiple high-impact publications and the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher status (2017-2021). Awards include the NRF Investigatorship (2023) , Mitsui Chemicals-SNIC Industry Award (2020) , and Singapore Young Scientist Award (2012) . Grants from NUS, Singapore MOE, CREATE/CRP programs, and A*STAR support his exploration of interface engineering for neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient nanocatalysts . Current projects include monolayer blue phosphorus synthesis and solid electrolyte interphase engineering for lithium batteries.
Karen I. Winey serves as the Harold Pender Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science. Her research group employs experimental and computational tools to investigate advanced polymers for energy applications, particularly focusing on proton and ion conductivity for fuel cells and batteries within the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM). Dr. Winey's research encompasses: Designing functional polymers to improve proton, hydroxide, and ion conductivity Studying polymer nanocomposites and nanoparticle dynamics in electrochemical devices Developing polymer-to-polymer upcycling methods to convert waste polyolefins to higher value polymers Revolutionizing understanding of ionomer morphologies beyond traditional spherical aggregate models Her recent publications reveal significant advances in sustainable energy materials, particularly fluorine-free alternatives to conventional polymer electrolytes. The research spans fundamental studies of ion transport mechanisms in precisely engineered polymers to practical applications in energy devices. A critical focus is understanding how nanoscale morphology affects macroscopic properties, with particular attention to structure-property relationships in ion-conducting polymers for fuel cells and batteries. Scientific recognition includes: 2025 Turner J. Alfrey Visiting Professor Harold Pender Professorship (endowed chair) NSF DMR Polymers grant awarded July 2025 Dr. Winey actively mentors a diverse research group including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduates. Her lab recently welcomed six summer undergraduates and has celebrated numerous student achievements including qualifying exam successes and award-winning presentations. Current major projects include the Port5 collaboration and the PolyUp project focused on polymer upcycling through dehydrogenation and functionalization strategies. The Winey Group operates within Penn's state-of-the-art Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST), maintaining active collaborations with institutions including the University of Konstanz in Germany, Florida State University, and Michigan State University. The group regularly hosts international visitors and participates in major conferences including the APS Global Physics Summit.
Prof. Dr. Björn Corzilius is a University Professor (W2) of Physical Chemistry at the University of Rostock, Germany, leading the Corzilius group. His research focuses on solid-state NMR spectroscopy, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), and applications in biomolecules and materials. He holds affiliations with the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and serves on multiple academic boards, including the transregional Collaborative Research Center TRR 386 and the journal Magnetic Resonance . Education: 1999: Studies of Chemistry, TU Darmstadt 2005: Diploma in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) 2008: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) Research Interests: Solid-state NMR, DNP for sensitivity enhancement, paramagnetic metal ions, biomolecular dynamics, and method development. His work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches to advance structural and functional studies of complex systems like proteins, nucleic acids, and catalytic materials. Recent Article Trends: Focus on DNP applications in biomolecular interfaces, novel polarizing agents (e.g., Gd(III) complexes), and methodological advancements like serial polarization transfer and electron-decoupled DNP. Contributions span inorganic chemistry, materials science, and biophysical systems. Awards: Emmy Noether Fellowship (2012) Felix Bloch Lecture (2016) Regitze M. Vold Memorial Prize (2017) Best Ph.D. Supervision (2018) Grants & Labs: Principal Investigator of the Emmy Noether Group (2013–2019), now leading the DNP research team at the University of Rostock. Collaborates closely with LIKAT on catalytic and materials projects. His group actively develops open-access publishing platforms like Magnetic Resonance and hosts international conferences. Labs/Teams: The Corzilius group at the Institute of Chemistry (Rostock) specializes in NMR method development and applications. Associated with LIKAT for interdisciplinary catalysis research.
Alexis Battle is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Computer Science , and Genetic Medicine (secondary). She directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare and serves as Deputy Director of the Data Science and AI Institute . Educated at Stanford University (PhD in Computer Science, 2013), Battle transitioned to academia after leadership roles at Google. Research Focus: Battle’s work bridges genomics and machine learning , emphasizing the impact of genetic variation on human health. Her lab develops tools like Watershed to predict functional effects of rare variants, aiming to enhance rare disease diagnosis. Key themes include non-coding DNA analysis , personalized genomics , and systems biology , with applications in cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders . Publications & Awards: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Biology , with recent emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics , multiomics integration , and telomere biology . Recipient of the President’s Frontier Award (2022), Microsoft Investigator Fellowship (2019), and Searle Scholar (2016). Scientific Awards: 2022 President’s Frontier Award 2019 Microsoft Investigator Fellowship 2019 Johns Hopkins Discovery Award 2017 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award 2016 Searle Scholar Advising & Funding: Mentors 11 PhD students, 3 undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is funded by NIH, Searle Scholars, and institutional grants. The Battle Lab collaborates on projects like the GTEx Consortium , focusing on gene regulation and clinical genomics .
Bradley Olsen is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding the Alexander and I. Michael (1960) Kasser Chair in Chemical Engineering. He is affiliated with MIT's School of Engineering and directs research in the Plastics and the Environment Program. His academic career spans over two decades with numerous prestigious appointments and recognitions. Olsen earned his S.B. from MIT in 2003 followed by a Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley in 2007. His educational background is complemented by postdoctoral fellowships including NIH and Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships (2008-2009) and the Hertz Fellowship (2003-2007). Research Interests Professor Olsen's research focuses on designing materials to address important challenges while understanding the fundamental science necessary for materials design. His primary research areas include block copolymers, soft condensed matter physics, protein-based materials, and bioelectronics. His group specializes in polymer networks, protein-polymer conjugates, self-assembly phenomena, and sustainable polymer development. The research has significant implications for biomaterials, sustainable polymers, and advanced materials design. Publication Trends Analysis of Professor Olsen's recent publications reveals a strong focus on polymer network topology, protein-polymer conjugates, and sustainable materials. His work increasingly integrates computational methods with experimental approaches, particularly in polymer characterization and data science applications to materials science. Recent publications show growing emphasis on biodegradable polymers, polymer informatics, and biomedical applications of advanced materials. Scientific Recognition Professor Olsen has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including: American Physical Society (APS) Fellow (2023) Fulbright Amazonia Scholar (2023) Alexander and I. Michael Kasser Chair in Chemical Engineering (2021) ACS Macro Letters/Biomacromolecules/Macromolecules Young Investigator Award (2021) AIChE Owens Corning Early Career Award (2019) American Physical Society Dillon Medal (2018) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Chemistry (2014) Advising and Funding Professor Olsen has secured significant research funding from multiple federal agencies including NSF, NIH, AFOSR, and DOE. His group has produced numerous high-impact publications across top journals in polymer science, materials science, and chemistry. He has advised multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. The MIT OGE's Committed to Caring Honor (2019) recognizes his excellence in graduate student mentoring. Research Infrastructure Professor Olsen leads a research group with capabilities spanning polymer synthesis, protein engineering, materials characterization, and computational modeling. His lab maintains strong collaborations with other MIT departments, national laboratories, and international research institutions. The group participates in several interdisciplinary initiatives including the Plastics and the Environment Program and has developed significant data infrastructure for polymer science through projects like CRIPT and BigSMARTS.
Dr. Tommaso Marcato is a Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich. He earned his MSc in Chemical and Bioengineering from ETH Zürich after completing his BSc in Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. His research focuses on perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), emission anisotropy, and light-outcoupling efficiency, with a particular emphasis on transition dipole moment orientation and nanocrystal self-assembly. His publications span topics such as Stabilization of CsPbI₃ nanoplatelets via metal iodide doping Molecular orientation engineering in OLEDs Ultraflexible self-powered optoelectronics Electroluminescent metasurfaces using perovskite nanocrystals His work aims to overcome photon trapping in devices by manipulating emitter orientation and exploring quantum confinement effects. Dr. Marcato's recent articles (2019–2025) demonstrate expertise in Hybrid perovskite systems Quantum dot applications Photonic device architecture Surface passivation techniques . He is part of the Shih group at ETH Zurich and has received funding from ETH-33 18-2 for his research on graphene-templated molecular alignment in LEDs.
Pierre Vandergheynst is a Full Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in the Department of Electrical Engineering, with a courtesy appointment in Computer and Communication Sciences. He serves as EPFL’s Vice-Provost for Education since 2015 and leads the Signal Processing Laboratory 2 (LTS2). His research spans harmonic analysis, sparse approximations, mathematical data processing, and applications in signal/image processing, computer vision, machine learning, and graph-based data analysis. PhD in Mathematical Physics (1998), Université catholique de Louvain Postdoctoral Researcher at EPFL (1998-2001) Assistant Professor at EPFL (2002-2007) His research explores geometry/symmetry in high-dimensional data, redundant dictionaries for dimensionality reduction, and computational harmonic analysis on manifolds. Recent work focuses on protein structure modeling, geometric deep learning, and graph-based signal processing. Key article trends include graph neural networks for protein analysis, geometric deep learning in neuroscience, and structured knowledge priors in neural models. His 2023-2025 publications emphasize interpretable AI, long-range dependencies in graphs, and molecular representation learning. Scientific Awards: IEEE Signal Processing Magazine Best Paper Award (2023) Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award (2022) Apple ARTS Award (2007) De Boelpaepe Prize, Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium (2009-2010) He has supervised over 30 PhD theses and contributed to foundational work in graph signal processing, compressive sensing, and geometric deep learning. His lab develops tools for data science on non-Euclidean structures, with applications in medicine, astronomy, and wireless systems.
Patrick Rinke serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, Finland. His research bridges theoretical physics, materials science, and computational methodologies with a strong focus on machine learning applications. His computational work spans electronic structure theory, materials design, and atmospheric chemistry. Rinke's research integrates Bayesian optimization, active learning, and high-throughput computational screening to accelerate materials discovery, particularly in hybrid perovskites, catalysts, and biomaterials. Recent work demonstrates machine learning's transformative potential in predicting molecular properties, optimizing materials functionality, and solving complex physical chemistry problems. His scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple awards: Thesis Prize from the Institute of Physics (2003) DFG Research Scholarship (2007-2009) Outstanding Postdoctoral Achievement Award (2009) Outstanding Referee of Physical Review Letters (2014) August-Wilhelm Scheer Visiting Professorship (2017)
Yaojun Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University. She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of California, San Diego (2015), followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (2015-2018) and the Princeton Center for the Physics of Biological Function (2018-2021). Her research focuses on biological physics, particularly the complex behaviors of biomolecules and their assemblies across scales—from single-molecule folding to intracellular transport and biomolecular phase separation. She employs theoretical, mathematical, and computational tools to bridge biological questions with physical principles. Education PhD in Physics, University of California, San Diego (2015) Postdoctoral Fellowships: Princeton University (2015-2021) Research Interests Her group studies biomolecular condensates and liquid-liquid phase separation, exploring how microscopic interactions determine macroscopic properties of cellular compartments. Key areas include: Biomolecular condensate formation and dynamics Phase separation in cellular environments Interactions between biomolecules and cellular components Biophysics of intracellular transport Collaborations & Tools Zhang collaborates with experimentalists to validate theoretical models and develops frameworks for understanding condensate functions, such as surface tension, stoichiometry, and phase diagrams. Her work addresses challenges like condensate stability, molecular exclusion, and biological function regulation. Labs & Resources She leads the Zhang Lab , which integrates experimental and computational approaches. Her team’s research is supported by resources at the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.
Frank L. Brown is a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a joint appointment in Physics and the Biomolecular Sciences & Engineering (BMSE) program. His research focuses on theoretical and computational studies at the interface of physical chemistry and biophysics, particularly biomembrane dynamics and spectroscopy. Dr. Brown received his B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley, followed by a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from MIT. He has held postdoctoral appointments at UC San Diego and the University of Chicago before joining UCSB in 2001. He is the recipient of prestigious awards including the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship and the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering. His laboratory employs tools from statistical mechanics, hydrodynamics, and quantum mechanics to study biomembrane structure, dynamics, and interactions with embedded proteins. Key research areas include lipid bilayer fluctuations, membrane protein diffusion, and interpretation of spectroscopic techniques like single-molecule fluorescence and neutron spin echo. Dr. Brown has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with notable alumni including Brian Camley, Max Watson, and Golan Bel. His research is supported by grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. He directs the Brown Research Group, which collaborates with institutions like the CNSI Center for Scientific Computing. His work bridges computational modeling and experimental biophysics, advancing understanding of membrane systems in health and disease.
Dr Henry Moss is a Researcher at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics within the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Cambridge. His work focuses on machine learning applications in climate modeling, Bayesian optimization, and Gaussian processes, bridging computational mathematics with environmental science and chemistry. His research interests include: Bayesian optimization for environmental and chemical systems Reinforcement learning in climate modeling Gaussian processes for molecular property prediction High-throughput machine learning in scientific domains Interpretable AI for coastal flooding prediction Hybrid ML-physics modeling Dr Moss's publications highlight his contributions to federated learning for climate models, sparse Gaussian process techniques, and multi-objective optimization frameworks. These works span applications in weather prediction, chemical engineering, and oceanography. Email: hwm26@cam.ac.uk
Gary Pielak is a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine. His research focuses on high-resolution protein NMR studies in living cells and the biophysics of tardigrade desiccation-tolerance proteins, bridging structural biology and molecular biophysics. Education: BS in Chemistry from Bradley University (1977), PhD in Biochemistry from Washington State University (1983), Postdoc at the University of British Columbia (1983-1986), Postdoc at Oxford University (1986-1988). Research Interests center on understanding protein structure, stability, and function in physiologically relevant environments. Key areas include: In-Cell NMR: Quantifying protein behavior in living cells using advanced NMR techniques. Macromolecular Crowding: Studying synthetic polymers and proteins as crowding agents to mimic cellular environments. Tardigrade Biology: Exploring desiccation-tolerance mechanisms in intrinsically disordered proteins from water bears. Recent Publications highlight interdisciplinary trends, combining AI-driven stability prediction, solid-state NMR for dry protein analysis, and molecular glass/gel applications for preservation. His Scientific Awards include: NIH Pioneer Award DuPont and Morrow Young Faculty Awards Multiple UNC Mentorship Awards Mentorship is a cornerstone, with a focus on training graduate students and advancing NMR methodologies. His group employs Research Methods : 19F, 1H, 15N, and 13C NMR Circular Dichroism and Calorimetry Protein Expression in E. coli
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tutar is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Sakarya University . His academic activities include teaching courses such as Organic Chemistry I/II , Organic Synthesis Design , and Stereochemistry , alongside supervising numerous master's theses in organic synthesis and humic substance applications. Research Interests: Focus on bromination reactions , BODIPY dye synthesis , humic/fulvic acid characterization , computational chemistry , and pharmaceutical applications of organic compounds. Key Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize photobromination methods , metal-organic frameworks , and biological activity of brominated derivatives , with keywords spanning organic synthesis , biochemistry , and environmental chemistry . Thesis Supervision: Guided 35+ master's theses (2007-2013) on topics like synthesis of brominated indan derivatives , humic acid extraction , and photobromination of terpenes .
Bradley D. Olsen is a full professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he leads research at the intersection of polymer science, soft matter physics, and bioengineering. His work focuses on designing materials for critical applications in biotechnology, hemostasis, and sustainable polymer development while advancing fundamental understanding of polymer network mechanics and self-assembly. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley (2007) S.B. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003) Olsen's research spans protein-based materials, block copolymer phase behavior, and mechanochemical hydrogels. He has pioneered methods for quantifying polymer network topology, developing hemostatic nanoparticles, and creating bio-inspired materials for selective biomolecular transport and medical applications. His recent publications emphasize data-driven approaches to polymer characterization and educational outreach in materials science. Scientific Awards: American Physical Society (APS) Fellow (2023) Fulbright Amazonia Scholar (2023) Alexander and I. Michael Kasser Chair in Chemical Engineering (2021) ACS Macro Letters Young Investigator Award (2021) MIT Committed to Caring Honor (2019) AIChE Owens Corning Early Career Award (2019) APS Dillon Medal (2018) Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry (2017) ACS Polymer Division Fellow (2016) Camille Dreyfus-Teacher Scholar (2015) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2014) NSF Career Grant (2013) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2009) Hertz Fellow (2003-2007) Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (2002) Olsen has received significant grant support including NSF Career (2013) and AFOSR (2012) awards. His teaching activities include innovative international outreach like the 2025 soccer-themed science camp in Brazil. The Olsen Group at MIT explores advanced materials with applications ranging from trauma care to sustainable polymers.
Supratik Guha is a Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Senior Advisor to Argonne National Laboratory's Physical Sciences and Engineering directorate. His work bridges industrial R&D with academic and national lab research, focusing on quantum computing , semiconductor materials , and sensor networks for water and soil monitoring. Guha leads Argonne’s quantum information science strategy and serves as Faculty Director for the University of Chicago Center in Delhi. Education: PhD in Materials Science (USC, 1991), BTech in Engineering Physics (IIT Kharagpur, 1985) Research interests span multiple domains: Quantum technologies focusing on erbium-doped oxides for quantum memory and quantum interconnects Sensor networks for soil and water quality monitoring using cyberphysical systems Nanofabrication techniques including controlled spalling for heterogeneous material integration Advanced memory technologies exploring ferroelectric and optically addressable memory at atomic scales Scientific awards include: Election to National Academy of Engineering (2015) APS Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics (2015) Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow (2018) Fellow of Materials Research Society and American Physical Society IBM Corporate Award (2013) Advising notable students like Manish Kumar Singh (co-founder memQ ), Cheng Ji (now at Intel), and Vamsi Nittala (now at Micron Technology). His group contributes to major DOE , NSF , and USDA funded projects including: Q-NEXT - DOE National Quantum Information Center AIFARMS - NSF/USDA AI for Agriculture Institute Thoreau Project - Geospatial sensor networks Labs and teams operate across University of Chicago and Argonne National Lab , with facilities for molecular beam epitaxy , nanofabrication , and optical/electrical characterization . The group has spawned startups like memQ (quantum networking) and K1 Semiconductors (wide-bandgap material transfer).
