Explore ChEMS Research
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS SCIENCE
What would you like to work on?
Start with your curiosity. Choose one of 10 research themes to meet faculty and explore their work. Labs appear in multiple themes when their research connects different fields.
Explore both a lab’s main research directions and examples of collaborative work. Follow the research links to learn more, and contact faculty about current graduate opportunities.
Develop better treatments for disease
Therapeutic engineering, drug delivery, and disease mechanisms
Christina Chan
Investigate cellular stress in disease and engineer cellular pathways and therapeutic delivery.
Robert Ferrier
Develop functional polymers for biomedical imaging and investigate immune-active polymers for addiction-related applications.
Michael Hickner
Study ion-exchange biomaterials that capture off-target antibiotics to help limit resistance evolution.
Andre Lee
Contribute materials characterization to studies of cholesterol crystallization and its inhibition by aspirin.
Richard Lunt
Explore light-activated molecules and nanoclusters for photodynamic cancer therapy.
Ramani Narayan
Investigate how biodegradable implant chemistry influences immune-cell metabolism and inflammation.
S. Patrick Walton
Study how cells process delivered RNA and engineer production of therapeutic proteins and extracellular vesicles.
Daniel Woldring
Engineer therapeutic binding proteins and targeted extracellular vesicles, and investigate transporters and antibody recognition.
Create materials that heal and sense
Biomaterials, biosensors, and biomedical devices
Scott Calabrese Barton
Investigate nanomaterials and interfaces for electrochemical sensing.
Carl Boehlert
Study degradable metal implants and protective coatings, linking mechanical behavior, corrosion, and biocompatibility.
Christina Chan
Explore how material properties and cellular signaling guide neural differentiation and tissue models.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Use atomistic calculations to understand antibacterial catalysts on two-dimensional materials.
Martin Crimp
Contribute to mechanical-reliability studies of 3D-printed antibacterial bioceramic scaffolds.
Robert Ferrier
Synthesize polymer contrast agents and functional polymer networks for biomedical applications.
David Hickey
Develop electrochemical biosensors using enzymes, engineered proteins, and electronically active materials.
Michael Hickner
Design and characterize ion-exchange biomaterials for selective capture of antibiotics.
K. Jayaraman
Contribute polymer mechanics expertise to degradable hydrogel scaffolds with programmable lifetimes.
Ilsoon Lee
Study biomimetic interfaces, functional coatings, biomaterials, and biosensors.
Xinyue Liu
Create hydrogel scaffolds, tissue adhesives, optical fibers, and living materials for biological interfaces and sensing.
Ramani Narayan
Examine biodegradable implant materials and the immune responses they generate.
Caroline Szczepanski
Design dental adhesives and polymer networks with controlled bonding, swelling, and surface properties.
Ruigang Wang
Explore nanostructured electrochemical biosensors, including semiconductor–graphene materials for viral detection.
Daniel Woldring
Engineer proteins for molecular recognition and electrochemical detection of biological targets.
Yilin Zhang
Design polymer nanocarriers that deliver sensor proteins into plants to monitor responses to heat, wounding, and other stresses.
Help crops thrive and turn biology into products
Plant protection, microbiomes, and biomanufacturing
Scott Calabrese Barton
Investigate bio-oil upgrading and electrochemical routes for converting biomass-derived feedstocks.
Christina Chan
Study cellular stress and protein processing to improve mammalian-cell production of proteins and vesicles.
Angela Chen
Use microbial communication, RNA delivery, and nanotechnology to protect plants and regulate microbiomes.
Robert Ferrier
Contribute to sensing approaches for monitoring soil nutrients and moisture.
David Hickey
Couple enzymes and microbial systems to electrochemistry for biosynthesis and biomass conversion.
Xinyue Liu
Develop living hydrogels and light-delivering materials to improve biological production and photosynthesis.
Richard Lunt
Study transparent photovoltaics that share sunlight with crops in greenhouse and agrivoltaic systems.
Ramani Narayan
Develop polymers and foams from renewable resources such as starch.
Nicole Shriner
Study beverage fermentation, crop ingredients, flavor control, and conversion of dairy by-products into food-grade ethanol.
Jonathan Turnley
Examine the opportunities and trade-offs of photovoltaics on agricultural land.
S. Patrick Walton
Engineer cellular biofactories and recovery methods for proteins and extracellular vesicles.
Daniel Woldring
Engineer plant immune receptors and explore enzyme evolution for biological production of useful chemicals.
Yilin Zhang
Develop polymer and biopolymer carriers that deliver genes, proteins, nutrients, and other agents to improve plant resilience and function.
Generate and store cleaner energy
Batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, hydrogen, and thermoelectrics
Madelyn Ball
Contribute materials design to lignin-based battery separators alongside work on energy-relevant catalysts.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Study electrocatalysts for fuel cells, hydrogen generation, and electrochemical conversion.
Shiwang Cheng
Study polymer electrolytes and polymer dynamics to improve ion-conducting energy materials.
Dmitri Cordova
Design low-dimensional crystals with functional properties relevant to energy harvesting.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Use simulations to design electrode materials, hydrogen-storage frameworks, and artificial-photosynthesis materials.
Chengcheng Fang
Develop safer, longer-lived batteries through electrolyte design, lithium-metal studies, and quantitative characterization.
Robert Ferrier
Create polymer electrolytes and ion-exchange membranes for energy storage.
David Hickey
Design electroactive molecules and interfaces for flow batteries and bioelectrochemical energy systems.
Michael Hickner
Design polymer membranes for fuel cells, flow batteries, electrolysis, and other energy devices.
Wei Lai
Combine experiments and atomistic simulations to study ion transport and solid-state battery materials.
Richard Lunt
Develop transparent and wavelength-selective solar cells and light-harvesting materials.
Jason Nicholas
Improve solid-oxide fuel cells and other electrochemical devices through control of interfaces and ionic transport.
Caroline Szczepanski
Contribute polymer-interface and membrane expertise to aqueous redox flow batteries.
Jonathan Turnley
Develop chalcogenide semiconductors for solar energy and investigate materials for energy storage.
Ruigang Wang
Design electrode, electrolyte, and separator materials for lithium, sulfur, aluminum, and other battery chemistries.
Hui-Chia Yu
Simulate battery electrode microstructures, transport, and electrochemical response.
Alexandra Zevalkink
Connect bonding, thermal transport, and electronic properties to thermoelectric energy conversion and ionic materials.
Capture carbon and make chemicals sustainably
Carbon capture, catalysis, and chemical conversion
Dylan Anstine
Develop molecular models for reaction discovery and study porous materials for carbon capture.
Madelyn Ball
Design nanoparticle catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion, methane upgrading, and selective hydrogenation.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Study electrocatalytic reactions and catalytic routes for biomass and plastic conversion.
Shiwang Cheng
Investigate polymer dynamics and porous membrane adsorbents for carbon dioxide capture.
Dmitri Cordova
Contribute structural characterization to understanding oxide catalysts during methane conversion.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Use quantum calculations to uncover catalytic mechanisms and design materials for energy and negative-emissions chemistry.
Robert Ferrier
Investigate metal-catalyzed polymer synthesis and reaction mechanisms for functional polymer design.
David Hickey
Design redox mediators and enzyme–electrode interfaces for electrochemical and biological catalysis.
Michael Hickner
Study selective ion transport in membranes used in carbon dioxide electrolysis and related processes.
Ramani Narayan
Explore catalytic depolymerization and chemical recycling of waste plastics.
Nicole Shriner
Investigate fermentation of milk-permeate by-products into food-grade ethanol, creating useful products from a dairy-processing stream.
Ruigang Wang
Investigate plasma-assisted catalysis, carbon dioxide conversion, and emission-control catalysts.
Daniel Woldring
Combine protein engineering and ancestral reconstruction to investigate enzyme catalysis.
Yilin Zhang
Explore polymer-enabled plant engineering aimed at improving plant functions, including photosynthesis and carbon capture.
Clean water and separate valuable resources
Membranes, adsorption, and separations
Dylan Anstine
Use molecular simulation to design porous materials for separations, including removal of dioxane from water.
Madelyn Ball
Investigate catalytic membranes that combine chemical reactions with separation.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Explore electrochemical materials for detecting contaminants such as heavy metals.
Christina Chan
Contribute to filtration-based isolation of extracellular particles for biotechnology.
Angela Chen
Develop microbiome and nanomaterial strategies with applications in environmental remediation.
Shiwang Cheng
Investigate polymer membranes and nanocomposites for gas separation and desalination.
Robert Ferrier
Develop polymeric membranes for clean water and selective ion transport.
David Hickey
Examine electrochemical recovery and conversion of nitrate from agricultural drainage.
Michael Hickner
Study membrane transport and water–polymer interactions for water treatment, desalination, and resource separation.
Ilsoon Lee
Design functional interfaces and multilayer membranes for fouling-resistant water treatment.
Xinyue Liu
Study hydrogels and sorption-based materials for water uptake, harvesting, and molecular transport.
Nicole Shriner
Investigate cyclic distillation for energy conservation in distilled-spirit production and recovery of valuable beverage products.
Caroline Szczepanski
Explore polymer and biopolymer interfaces for separation applications, including removal of dyes from water.
S. Patrick Walton
Develop filtration methods for separating nanoscale extracellular particles.
Yilin Zhang
Upcycle agricultural and textile biopolymers into nanofibril sorbents for removing PFAS and other contaminants from water and food systems.
Make smarter plastics with less waste
Polymer science, responsive materials, and circular materials
Dylan Anstine
Use machine learning to design polymer materials, including tough printable elastomers.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Develop chemical and electrochemical approaches to plastic upcycling and polymer functionalization.
Shiwang Cheng
Connect polymer dynamics and mechanics to recyclable plastics, vitrimers, and adaptable networks.
Dmitri Cordova
Investigate temperature-responsive polymer nanomaterials and their structural behavior.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Use simulations to investigate polymerization mechanisms and functional polymer materials.
Chengcheng Fang
Investigate polymer electrolytes and renewable-resource separators for batteries.
Robert Ferrier
Synthesize functional polyethers and photoresponsive gels with tunable properties.
David Hickey
Design electroactive polymer materials and polymer–enzyme interfaces.
Michael Hickner
Study ion-containing polymers and printable polymer composites for functional materials.
K. Jayaraman
Connect processing, rheology, and fiber orientation to performance of polymer composites.
Andre Lee
Study hybrid polymers and nanocomposites, including time-dependent mechanics and molecular interactions.
Ilsoon Lee
Engineer polymer surfaces, coatings, and self-assembled interfaces.
Xinyue Liu
Control hydrogel topology, fracture, degradation, and transport for responsive soft materials.
Ramani Narayan
Design biobased and biodegradable polymers, and study recycling and managed end-of-life.
Caroline Szczepanski
Create polymer networks, adhesives, coatings, and surfaces with tunable structure and response.
Ruigang Wang
Explore conductive, recyclable, and self-healing polymer nanocomposites.
Yilin Zhang
Design functional polymer nanocarriers and convert waste biopolymers into materials for agriculture and contaminant removal.
Build stronger materials and 3D-printed parts
Structural materials, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing
Dylan Anstine
Use human-guided machine learning to design tough elastomers for 3D printing.
Carl Boehlert
Relate metal microstructures and deformation mechanisms to strength, fatigue, and corrosion resistance.
Shiwang Cheng
Investigate polymer deformation, fracture, processing, and composite mechanics.
Martin Crimp
Use electron microscopy and diffraction to investigate defects and mechanical behavior in materials.
Philip Eisenlohr
Develop computational models of crystal plasticity, microstructure, and additive manufacturing.
Chengcheng Fang
Develop fabrication approaches for ultrathin battery components and quantify their performance.
Robert Ferrier
Relate polymer-network structure and nanoparticle organization to mechanical and optical behavior.
Michael Hickner
Develop additive manufacturing of polymer, composite, and polymer-derived ceramic structures.
K. Jayaraman
Design composite laminates, molds, and manufacturing methods for structural parts.
Andre Lee
Study processing and mechanical behavior of hybrid polymers and nanocomposites.
Xinyue Liu
Develop tough hydrogel architectures and investigate how strain controls material degradation.
Ramani Narayan
Use extrusion and polymer-blend design to manufacture sustainable materials and composites.
Jason Nicholas
Study porous interlayers, wetting, and adhesion between metals and ceramic or steel components.
Caroline Szczepanski
Engineer polymer-network geometry and surface structure to control toughness and failure.
Hui-Chia Yu
Develop microstructure simulations and methods for transport in complex material geometries.
Alexandra Zevalkink
Measure elastic and thermal properties and connect them to structure in alloys and inorganic materials.
Invent materials for electronics and quantum devices
Electronic, optical, quantum, and sensing materials
Scott Calabrese Barton
Contribute to studies of semiconductor nanowire growth and electrochemical sensing materials.
Dmitri Cordova
Control low-dimensional crystal growth and interfaces for optoelectronics, quantum materials, and sensing.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Model electronic, spintronic, and quantum properties of low-dimensional materials.
Martin Crimp
Investigate defects associated with the superconducting behavior of niobium.
Robert Ferrier
Study optical anisotropy and nanoparticle orientation in polymer nanocomposites.
David Hickey
Combine molecular electrochemistry with organic transistors and sensing interfaces.
Michael Hickner
Contribute to polymer and semiconductor materials for improved organic light-emitting devices.
Wei Lai
Investigate electronic materials and electrochemical sensors for gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
Andre Lee
Study hybrid and nanostructured materials relevant to electronic packaging and functional composites.
Xinyue Liu
Develop optical hydrogel fibers and soft electrical interfaces for sensing and biological applications.
Richard Lunt
Engineer organic and perovskite materials for light harvesting and electronic devices.
Jason Nicholas
Study electrochemically active materials and interfaces for sensors and devices.
Jonathan Turnley
Develop solution-processing routes to emerging chalcogenide semiconductors.
Ruigang Wang
Explore conductive nanocomposites and semiconductor-based sensing materials.
Alexandra Zevalkink
Study electronic and thermal transport, including bonding-driven changes in topological materials.
Use AI and simulations to accelerate discovery
Machine learning, molecular modeling, and computational materials science
Dylan Anstine
Build machine-learned potentials and generative models for molecular design and reaction prediction.
Scott Calabrese Barton
Use quantum-chemical and kinetic models to study electrochemical conversion and enzyme systems.
Carl Boehlert
Combine deformation measurements with computer vision and automated analysis of microstructures.
Christina Chan
Use systems approaches and transport modeling to investigate biological processes.
Jose Mendoza Cortes
Combine quantum simulations, machine learning, and multiscale models to design functional materials.
Philip Eisenlohr
Develop computational materials-mechanics tools and digital twins for microstructure and manufacturing.
Robert Ferrier
Use polymerization and optical models to understand functional polymer materials.
David Hickey
Use model-guided design to connect redox-mediator structure to bioelectrocatalytic performance.
Michael Hickner
Explore large language models as molecular design tools.
Wei Lai
Use atomistic simulations and machine-learned potentials to study diffusion and conduction.
Andre Lee
Apply atomistic simulations to interactions involving hybrid polymer building blocks and metal surfaces.
Daniel Woldring
Develop machine-learning tools for protein design, function prediction, and molecular recognition.
Hui-Chia Yu
Build physics-based simulations and high-throughput screening methods for material microstructures.
Yilin Zhang
Integrate machine learning and multi-omics with experimental measurements to understand nanomaterial–plant interactions and guide agrochemical carrier design.
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.
Some faculty also investigate how engineering is taught and learned, including S. Patrick Walton, Madelyn Ball, and Alexandra Zevalkink.
Research themes and examples were reviewed using MSU faculty profiles and available publication records on September 30, 2026. Examples include collaborative publications and do not imply that every project is currently active or recruiting. Faculty portraits are from the MSU College of Engineering directory.
