Explore ChEMS Research
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS SCIENCE
What would you like to work on?
Start with your curiosity. Tap a research topic to meet faculty and explore examples of the questions their labs investigate.
20 ways to explore research in health, energy, sustainability, and materials.
Each topic below includes its research term and related faculty. Several labs appear under more than one topic because their work connects disciplines.
Design proteins that fight disease
Antibody and therapeutic protein engineering
Daniel Woldring
Engineer binding proteins for precision medicines and disease detection, combining yeast surface display with structural modeling.
Get medicines where they need to go
Targeted drug and RNA delivery
Christina Chan
Investigate materials and cellular pathways that influence delivery of therapeutic molecules.
S. Patrick Walton
Study how small interfering RNAs enter and move through cells to improve gene-silencing therapies.
Daniel Woldring
Engineer protein binders and extracellular-vesicle targeting strategies for selective recognition of tumor cells.
Discover why healthy cells become diseased
Cellular signaling and disease mechanisms
Christina Chan
Investigate how saturated fatty acids trigger cellular stress pathways involved in metabolic disease and cancer.
S. Patrick Walton
Collaborate on studies of cellular stress, DNA-damage responses, and resistance to treatment.
Create materials that help the body heal
Biomaterials and biomedical implants
Carl Boehlert
Develop zinc–magnesium alloys for biodegradable medical implants, balancing strength, compatibility, and corrosion.
Caroline Szczepanski
Design polymer networks and adhesives for more durable dental restorations.
Xinyue Liu
Develop soft hydrogels that can interface with biological tissues, including flexible optical fibers.
Build sensors that monitor health
Biosensors and bioelectronics
David Hickey
Explore electrochemical biosensors that translate biological recognition into measurable electrical signals.
Xinyue Liu
Combine hydrogels with sensing components and living cells to create responsive materials.
Help crops thrive with beneficial microbes
Plant microbiome engineering
Angela Chen
Develop nanomaterials and biological strategies to regulate plant-associated microbiomes, improve plant resilience, and reduce agricultural chemical use.
Build safer, longer-lasting batteries
Lithium-metal and solid-state batteries
Chengcheng Fang
Investigate metal and solid-state batteries by connecting materials chemistry with battery performance.
Wei Lai
Study how atomic structure and ion motion govern materials for energy storage.
Ruigang Wang
Develop metal–sulfur battery materials to address limitations in high-energy storage.
Hui-Chia Yu
Simulate ion transport, electrode reactions, and mechanical stresses to understand battery degradation.
Store renewable energy for the power grid
Redox flow batteries
David Hickey
Investigate recyclable organic electrolytes for large-scale redox flow batteries.
Robert Ferrier
Develop polymer ion-exchange membranes for aqueous redox flow batteries.
Michael Hickner
Design membranes that control ion transport and limit unwanted crossover in flow batteries.
Turn windows into solar panels
Photovoltaics and transparent solar cells
Richard Lunt
Develop transparent and semitransparent photovoltaics that harvest light while preserving visible transparency.
Turn fuels into cleaner electricity
Fuel cells and electrocatalysis
Scott Calabrese Barton
Develop lower-cost catalysts and investigate transport within fuel-cell electrodes.
Jason Nicholas
Study ion exchange and ceramic materials for solid oxide fuel cells.
Michael Hickner
Design ion-conducting polymers to improve electrochemical device performance and durability.
Turn wasted heat into electricity
Thermoelectric materials
Alexandra Zevalkink
Grow and characterize crystals to understand heat and charge transport in thermoelectric materials.
Capture carbon dioxide and put it to use
Carbon capture and catalytic conversion
Dylan Anstine
Investigate microporous materials for carbon capture using computational and AI-based approaches.
Madelyn Ball
Study supported metal catalysts and reaction intermediates to improve carbon dioxide conversion.
Ruigang Wang
Explore carbon dioxide and methane conversion through thermal catalysis, plasma, and electrochemical approaches.
Make chemicals with less energy and waste
Sustainable catalysis
Madelyn Ball
Design catalysts for more efficient transformations of feedstocks such as biomass, waste plastics, and carbon dioxide.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Investigate electrocatalysis and bio-inspired catalytic cascades for energy conversion and chemical transformations.
Ruigang Wang
Develop catalysts and support materials for emissions control and chemical conversion.
Make plastics from plants that can compost
Biobased and compostable polymers
Ramani Narayan
Engineer biobased and compostable polymers from agricultural feedstocks and evaluate their environmental footprint and end-of-life options. Composting conditions depend on the material.
Design better filters for cleaner water
Membrane separations and water treatment
Ilsoon Lee
Engineer layered and surface-modified membranes that resist fouling and selectively remove contaminants from water.
3D-print stronger, lighter parts
Additive manufacturing and polymer composites
Michael Hickner
Develop printable polymers, composites, and polymer-derived ceramics for advanced manufacturing.
K. Jayaraman
Investigate additive manufacturing of reprocessable polymer composites and lightweight tooling for automotive and aerospace applications.
Discover what makes metals bend or break
Metallurgy and materials mechanics
Carl Boehlert
Relate alloy microstructures to strength, deformation, and mechanical performance.
Martin Crimp
Use electron microscopy to reveal the defects and deformation mechanisms that influence metal failure.
Philip Eisenlohr
Simulate crystal deformation and microstructure mechanics to predict damage in structural materials.
Create materials that sense and respond
Responsive polymers and living materials
Xinyue Liu
Build adaptable hydrogels that respond to physical signals or incorporate living cells for sensing.
Caroline Szczepanski
Engineer polymer networks, surfaces, and bio-inspired composites with tailored behavior.
Shiwang Cheng
Study polymer motion at interfaces and connect microscopic dynamics to material mechanics.
Use AI to discover new molecules and materials
Machine learning for molecular and materials design
Dylan Anstine
Develop machine-learned models and synthesis-planning approaches to accelerate chemical discovery.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Combine quantum and atomistic simulations with machine learning to design functional materials.
Daniel Woldring
Use protein language models and generative modeling to guide protein library design and predict function.
Invent materials for tomorrow’s electronics
Semiconductor and quantum materials
Dmitri Cordova
Control crystal growth and interfaces to design materials for optoelectronics, quantum devices, and sensing.
Jonathan Turnley
Develop metal chalcogenide materials for electronics, energy generation, and energy storage.
Richard Lunt
Investigate organic and molecular electronics, light-emitting materials, and crystal growth.
Andre Lee
Study electronic packaging materials and the reliability of interconnections in electronic devices.
Find your next research question
Visit the ChEMS department website to explore degree programs, or browse the full faculty directory. Contact faculty to learn about current projects and graduate opportunities.
Research summaries are adapted from the ChEMS Research Annual 2024 and MSU faculty profiles. Faculty portraits are sourced from the MSU College of Engineering directory. Topic matches describe research interests, not confirmed openings.
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