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Graduate students

Recent Ph.D. Degrees

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2023

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Mary O'Kelly BoitCole DeForestInjectable Biomaterials for Transplantation of Cardiac Cell-Based Therapies
Hawley HelmbrechtElizabeth NanceA Data-Driven Pipeline for Quantifying Microglial Morphology Across Models of Neurodevelopmental Disease
Prabhleen KaurBuddy RatnerDeveloping Non-Fouling and Lubricious Surface Coatings for Orthopedic Implants
Julia A. KingBuddy RatnerApproaches and Preparation for Extending Insulin Catheter Longevity

2022

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Erica EggletonDaniel SchwartzMultiscale Data, Analytics, and Tools for Emerging Applications of Electrochemical Energy Systems
Victor HuDaniel SchwartzDevelopment of Whole-Cell Diagnostic Techniques and Tools for Lithium-ion Batteries
Chris NyamburaElizabeth Nance & Jim PfaendtnerRational Design of Protein-loaded Polymeric nanoparticles: A Computational and Experimental Approach
Mary O'Kelly BoitCole DeForest & Charles MurryZwitterionic Injectable Pellet (ZIP) Microgels and Recombinant Protein-Based Coiled-XTEN-Coil Hydrogels as Injectable Biomaterials for Transplantation of Cell-Based Therapies
Jaime RodriguezLilo PozzoNext Generation Materials and Strategies for the Advancement of Redox-Flow Batteries
Griffin RuehlCharles CampbellEnergetics of Small Molecules and Molecular Fragments on Model Catalyst Surfaces: Adsorption Calorimetry on Pt(111) & Cu(111)
Jack RumptzCharles CampbellInsights into Catalysts for Metal Absorption and Adhesive Energies
Linnette TeoDaniel SchwartzModel-based Analytical Tools for Advanced Batteries

2021

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Sarah AlamdariJim PfaendtnerDiscovery of Biomolecular Structure-Function Mechanisms with Computational Frameworks at the Nanoscale
Brittany BishopVincent HolmbergSynthesis, Surface Functionalization, and Strain-Engineering of Luminescent Inorganic Nanostructures
Brian GerweStuart AdlerOperando Imaging Techniques for Probing Local Electrochemical Response in Solids
Andrea JosephElizabeth NanceBiodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for neuroprotection in neonatal brain injury
Caitlin ParkeDaniel Schwartz and Venkat SubramanianPhysics-based Models of Lithium Sulfur Batteries for Electric Transportation
Akshay SubramaniamDaniel Schwartz and Venkat SubramanianTowards a Systems-Level Understanding of Battery Systems: Modeling Approaches for Design, Control and Analysis
Jonathan WittStuart Adler and Eric StuveCo-electrolysis of Water and Carbon Dioxide by Gadolinia Doped Ceria using Electrochemical Perturbations and Differential Frequency Resolved Mass Spectrometry

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2020

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Rick LiaoElizabeth NanceAntioxidant-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of excitotoxicity in neurological disease
Patrick McMullenShaoyi JiangZwitterionic Peptide Fusion Proteins for Therapeutic and Protective Applications
Sawyer MorganDaniel T. SchwartzEnergetics, synthesis, and structural characteristics of ferromagnetic metals for shape memory alloy and catalysis
Elena PandresVincent HolmbergSynthesis, Assembly, and Integration of Semiconductor Nanowires
Emily RuskowitzCole DeForestPhotochemical and Logic-Based Regulation over the Cellular Microenvironment
Ryan StoddardHugh HillhouseDevelopment of Stable, High Optoelectronic Quality Perovskites Using Photoluminescence, Photoconductivity, and Machine Learning
Gabriella TosadoQiuming YuDevelopment of Highly Efficient and Stable Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells Through Composition and Interface Engineering
Caroline TsaoShaoyi JiangZwitterionic Polymer-based Platforms for Biotherapeutics and Implants
Caitlyn WolfLilo D. PozzoMolecular Conformation and Dynamics of Conjugated Polymers using Neutron and X-ray Scattering and Simulations
Kan WuShaoyi JiangDeveloping Nonfouling Zwitterionic Coatings for Biomedical Applications
Le ZhenBuddy D. RatnerImmunomodulatory porous regenerative scar-free scaffolds for in-situ vascular engineering
Erjin ZhengQiuming YuDevelopment and Application of Novel Optoelectronic Materials for Photodetectors and Solar Cells

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2019

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Steven AdelmundCole DeForestBioorthogonal Photochemistry: Enabling Spatiotemporally Resolved Proteomics & Dynamic Materials
Barry BadeauCole DeForestLogical Control over Biomaterial Properties through Boolean Responsive Linkers
Wesley BecknerJim PfaendtnerIonic Liquid Design Using Molecular Simulation and Statistical Methods
James ClarkHugh HillhouseEarth-Abundant Thin-Film Devices for Photovoltaic and Electrochemical Applications
Chad CurtisElizabeth NanceTrajectory features as surrogate measures of the nanoparticle-microenvironment interaction space
Neal Dawson-ElliVenkat SubramanianThe Role of Data Science in Numerical Modeling of Lithium Ion Batteries
Yi-Ting LeeLilo PozzoUnravelling Synthesis and Transport Phenomena in Emulsion Systems with Small Angle Scattering
Erik LiuShaoyi JiangDevelopment of Mixed-Charge EK Polypeptides for Protein Protection
Yanbo QiDaniel Schwartz & Venkat SubramanianModel-based Graded Electrode Design for Lithium-ion Batteries
Jared ShadishCole DeForestExploiting Chemoenzymatic and Photochemical Reactions to Control 4D Protein Presentation in Cell-Laden Hydrogels
Joshua SmithShaoyi Jiang & Jim PfaendtnerCoupling molecular dynamics and machine learning to accelerate the design of bioinspired materials

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2018

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Ian BralyHugh HillhouseOptoelectronic Quality and Stability of Hybrid Perovskites Determined by Steady-State Luminescence Techniques
Daniel David GalvanQiuming YuImproved Performance in Plasmonic Biosensors for Bacterial Detection Through Dielectric Conditioning and Dielectrophoretic Enhancement
Razieh KhalifehzadehBuddy D. RatnerFlourination of Poly(lactides) as a Path to Enhanced Hemocompatability
Matthew MurbachDaniel T. SchwartzLinear and Nonlinear Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Karl OlesonDaniel T. SchwartzExtractives of Douglas-fir and Their Implications for Biofuel Saccharification
Arushi PrakashJim PfaendtnerUnderstanding Self-Assembly in Solution and at Interfaces Using All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Enhanced Sampling Methods
Jessica Soto-RodriguezFrançois BaneyxSolid binding peptides: applications in affinity protein purification and bioprotonic devices
Honorio ValdesEric StuveAn assessment of alkali metal-O2 chemistry; perspectives and prospectives
William E. VojeJames CarothersDesign of gRNA Expression Systems and Characterization of CRISPR Transcriptional Networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Yuyin XiLilo PozzoStructure Engineering of Self- and Directed-Assembled Conjugated Polymers
Peng ZhangShaoyi JiangImproving Safety and Efficacy of Protein Therapeutics by Chemical Modifications

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2017

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Tao BaiShaoyi JiangDeveloping Zwitterionic Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications
Matt CranePeter PauzaskieLaser Induced Heat and Momentum Transfer in Nanomaterial Processing
Kyle CaldwellJohn C. BergAdhesion and Interphase Properties of Reinforced Polymeric Composites
Alexey GilmanMary Lidstrom & David BeckDevelopment of a Promising Methanotrophic Bacterium as an Industrial Biocatalyst
Elisa T. HarrisonDavid CastnerCombining Surface Analytical and Computational Techniques to Investigate Orientation Effects of Immobilized Proteins
John KataharaHugh HillhouseIlluminating the Potential of Thin-Film Photovoltaics
Karl J. KerrJonathan PosnerIsotachophoresis Enhanced Point-of-Care Assays for Clinical Diagnostics
Janet Bickford MatsenMary LidstromGenomics, Transcriptomics, and Statistical/Machine Learning to Enhance Understanding of Methantrophic Microbial Metabolism in Isolates and Communities
Kayla Gaye SprengerJim PfaendtnerDevelopment and Use of Molecular Simulation Tools to Study the Structure and Function of Biomolecules at Interfaces

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2016

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Mark D. BorysiakJonathan PosnerNucleic Acid Diagnostics Using Isotachophoresis and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification
Trevor BraunDaniel T. SchwartzRemote Control Electrodeposition: Patterning on Substrates without Electrical Connections
Blake R. HoughDaniel T. Schwartz & Jim PfaendtnerComputational Approaches and Tools for Modeling Biomass Pyrolysis
James M. LownsburyCharles CampbellAdsorption Calorimetry for Energy Conversion Technologies
Edward MichorJohn BergThe Effects of Reverse Micelles on Charging Behavior in Apolar Media
Brian SwiftFrançois BaneyxEngineering Solid Binding Proteins for the Biofabrication of Environmentally-Friendly Multi-functional Quantum Dots
Fang SunShaoyi JiangDeveloping Multifunctional Surface Chemistry for Plasmonic Biosensing in Complex Media

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2015

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Andrew CollordHugh HillhouseHigh-Throughput Exploration of Defect Passivation Strategies for Kesterite Photovoltaics
Charlie CorredorJonathan PosnerMethods to Assess Presence and Biological Impact of Engineered Nanoparticles
Kelly FlemingJim PfaendtnerNew Solution to an Old Problem: Exploring Properties of Chemical Reactions in Condensed Phases Using Molecular Simulation
Pablo De La IglesiaLilo PozzoStructure-Property Relationships of Self-Assembled Conjugated Polymers
Julee A. FloydBuddy RatnerDrug Encapsulated Aerosolized Microspheres as a Biodegradable, Intelligent Glioma Therapy
Rami FosterDavid G. CastnerUsing Surface Analysis to Investigate how Adsorbed Protein Structure Changes with Controlled Changes in Surface Chemistry: A Case Study Involving Bare & Sodium Styrene Sulfonate-Grafted Gold Surface
Matthew M. GacekJohn BergSurfactant mediated acid-base particle charging inapolar media
Ye-Jin HwangSamson JenekheStudies of conjugated semiconductors for electronics and optoelectronics
Vance JaegerJim PfaendtnerDeveloping a Simulation Framework for Modeling Biomolecules in Ionic Liquids
James F. MatthaeiFrançois BaneyxTwo-Dimensional Protein Arrays: De Novo Design and Applications
Ann K. NowinskiShaoyi JiangDeveloping Low Fouling Peptides and Zwitterionic Materials
Beau RichardsonQiuming YuStudies of Pyrite FeS2 Nanocyrstals and Plasmonic Nanostructures for Low Cost and High Efficiency Inverted Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells
Amanda L. SmithMary LidstromDevelopment of a novel carbon fixation pathway enabled by protein engineering
Weiran ZhangFrançois BaneyxSignal peptide and chaperone engineering for secretion and excretion in Escherichia coli
Leize ZhuQiuming YuEfficient, Low-Cost Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Solar cells via Maternials, Interface, and Device Structure Design

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2014

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
Norman D. BraultShaoyi JiangMultifunctional Zwitterionic Surface Chemistry for Applications in Complex
Patrick BurneyJim PfaendtnerMolecular Modeling of Protein Stability and Conformation Preference in Ionic Liquids
Helen C. ChenHong ShenControl of endosomal Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling by nanoparticles and applications in cancer therapy
Brandon L. CoyleFrançois BaneyxSolid-binding Proteins for Modification of Inorganic Substrates
Michael DeighanJim PfaendtnerSimulating Protein Adsorption Phenomena for Experimental Comparison
Taeshik EarmmeSamson JenekheStudies of Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes and All-Polymer Solar Cells
Tim C. GearyStuart AdlerLanthanum Ferrite-Based Mixed-Conducting Electrodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Bo HuMary LidstromMetabolic Engineering of the ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway in M. extorquens AM1 for 1-butanol Production
Timothy J. McDonaldStuart AdlerCharacterization and Modeling of La{1-x}Sr{x}CoO {3-delta} Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes Using Nonlinear Electrochemical Impedance Techniques
Luo MiShaoyi JiangMolecular Engineering Approaches against Germs, Spores and Biofilm Formation
Gregory M. NewbloomLilo PozzoEngineering the Multi-Length Scale Structure of Self-Assembled Conjugated Polymer Networks
Jeffrey J. RichardsLilo PozzoStructural Characterization of Composite Thin-film and Dispersed Phase Conjugated Polymer/Fullerene Composites
Benjamin H. RutzJohn BergImprovement of Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Composites
Qing ShaoShaoyi JiangUnderstanding Properties of Zwitterionic Materials from Their Molecular Structures
Trent SilbaughCharles CampbellThermodynamics and Kinetics of Elementary Surface Reaction Steps in Catalysis by Single Crystal Adsorption Calorimetry
Christopher A. WolcottCharles CampbellEnergetics of Elementary Steps in Catalysis and Their Use to Search for New Catalysts
Wei YangShaoyi JiangZwitterionic Poly(carboxybetaine) Materials for Blood-Contacting Medical Devices and Nanoparticles
Xi ZhanHong ShenEngineering blend particle delivery platform for subunit vaccines against mucosally transmitted viral infections

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2013

StudentFaculty AdviserDissertation Title
David Y. ChiuJames BryersEvaluation of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Mineralized with Proteins and Peptides for Use as Adjuvants in Protein and Nucleic Acid Vaccines
Tyler A. HouseDaniel SchwartzSimulations of Steady Streaming Flows and the Time-Averaged Motion of Inertial Particles
Andrew J. KeefeShaoyi JiangDiscovery and Development of Synthetic and Natural Biomaterials for Protein Therapeutics and Medical Device Applications
Lakshmi S. KocherlakotaRene OverneyInterfacial and Transport Properties of Nanoconstrained Inorganic and Organic Materials
Ikechuwu NwaneshiuduDaniel SchwartzTailoring Polymer Micro-extraction Phases to Enhance the Sensitivity and Selectivity of Raman Spectroscopy
Monica Ospinal-JiminezLilo PozzoEngineering protein electrophoresis through surfactant design: The role of nanostructure
Guoqiang RenSamson JenekheStudies of Organic Semiconductor Nanostructures and Their Photovoltaic Applications
Michael A. RobinsonDavid CastnerChemical Analysis of Cells and Tissues with Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
Andrew D. WhiteShaoyi JiangModeling Nonspecific Interactions at Biological Interfaces
Christina S. YacoobHong ShenParticle Fabrication and delivery systems for controlled release of bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) for malaria transmission blocking