CBE faculty are broadly categorized based on their research activities into Research Focus Areas and Impact Areas. Research Focus Areas group faculty that utilize similar techniques in their research, whereas Impact Areas group faculty based upon the societal impact of their research. Click the section corresponding to each research area below to see the associated faculty and a brief description of how each faculty member fits within the area. Affiliate faculty members (who can advise CBE students but have their primary appointment in other departments) are denoted by *.

Recordings of presentations from spring 2024 that provide overviews of each research area, as well as an overview of the department, are available in this YouTube playlist.


Research Focus Areas

  • The Dudley lab researches the sustainable production of useful biomolecules with a particular focus on cell-free and plant synthetic biology.
  • The Graham group studies the dynamics and distributions of cells in blood flow, with a focus on changes arising in sickle cell disease and other disorders affecting the blood.
  • The Lynn group synthesizes and characterizes new types of materials, with a particular focus on problems and challenges of biomedical and biotechnological importance.
  • The Ngo group combines principles and tools from tissue engineering, cell engineering, and mammalian synthetic biology to build human tissue models that can be used to study how the interactions between different cell types influence tissue development, regeneration, and disease.
  • The Palecek group uses human pluripotent stem cells to identify biological mechanisms by which cells make fate choices and uses this information to develop processes to advance biomanufacturing of stem cell-derived cells and tissues for in vitro modeling and cell therapy applications.
  • The Pfleger group applies synthetic biology tools to design, construct, and analyze biotechnologies for sustainably producing fuels, chemicals, proteins, and natural products. Projects focus on engineering individual proteins, metabolic pathways, or cellular chassis.
  • The Raman* laboratory develops high-throughput technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, and computation to understand and engineer biomolecular and cellular systems for human health, environmental sensing, and biomanufacturing applications.
  • The Romero* group explores the interface between artificial intelligence and biological design. The group studies AI systems to imagine new biomolecules, metabolic networks, and cellular functions to address global challenges in energy, industrial chemistry, and human health.
  • The Shusta group uses a variety of molecular and cellular engineering tools to develop drug screening and drug delivery platforms useful for the treatment of neurological diseases.
  • The Van Lehn group utilizes molecular simulation methods to study the behavior of molecules and materials at biological interfaces, with a particular focus on interactions with and transport across cellular membranes.
  • The Venturelli* lab develops and integrates experimental and computational approaches to design and understand microbiomes, biological networks and host-microbe interactions using tools from systems and synthetic biology.
  • The Yin lab combines genome-sequence analyses, computational modeling, and quantitative wet-lab experiments to better understand how viruses grow, spread, and persist — gaining insights for engineering next generation anti-viral therapeutics.
  • The Gebbie lab studies how ionic assembly on the liquid side of electrode-electrolyte interfaces tunes electrochemical reactivity. Projects are using carbon and nitrogen reduction reactions to probe fundamentals of how electric double layers influence electron transfer.
  • The Hermans* group links kinetic activity studies with in situ spectroscopy and materials synthesis to design better catalytic systems.
  • The Huber research group is developing new generations of catalysts, reactors, spectroscopic and imaging tools, and computational models that are essential for understanding and controlling the chemical transformation of sustainable resources to fuels and chemicals.
  • The Krishna group combines precise synthesis of porous catalyst materials, structural characterization under reaction conditions, and kinetic and mechanistic studies of complex reaction networks, to elucidate the reaction chemistries and active site requirements of catalytic reactions.
  • The Mavrikakis group designs improved catalysts at the atomic scale by elucidating the fundamental surface science of molecular interactions with solid surfaces, and starting from first principles, while bridging the pressure gap via microkinetic modeling.
  • The Pfleger group engineers biocatalysts to perform sustainable chemistries in cells or in vitro. Projects address limiting steps in the catalytic cycle of enzymes or limiting transformations in metabolic pathways.
  • The Root group applies expertise in catalysis, reaction chemistry, and reactor design to processes for conversion of biomass feedstocks such as lignin to monomers or other useful chemicals, as well as to designing fuel cell systems for pharmaceutical reactions and energy storage technology.
  • The Schauer* group develops measurement and chemical characterization tools to quantitatively understand the origin and impacts of air pollution.
  • The Schreier group studies how the properties of electrode materials and electrolytes control catalytic reactivity at electrochemical interfaces to develop novel avenues for energy storage, make chemical synthesis more sustainable, and convert CO2 to valuable chemicals and fuels.
  • The Boydston* group engages in interdisciplinary research to develop functional materials at multiple length scales. We specialize in synthetic polymer chemistry, photoredox catalysis, polymer mechanochemistry, and additive manufacturing (3D printing).
  • The Cersonsky lab uses molecular simulation and machine learning to understand and harness directional interactions across many length scales of materials, from molecule-molecule interactions to colloids and nanoparticles.
  • The Gebbie lab synthesizes and characterizes ionic liquids and other correlated electrolytes with extremely high ion concentrations. Projects aim to reveal how collective ionic assembly influences ion transport and electron transfer in electrochemical devices.
  • The Gopalan* group focuses on developing functional polymeric materials and self-assembly strategies to address problems that reside at the interface of Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biology.
  • The Graham group studies a wide range of flow phenomena, ranging from particle dynamics in suspensions of 2D materials, surfactant solutions and polymer solutions, blood flow, and turbulent flows, for applications in materials processing, hematological diseases and increasing energy efficiency.
  • The Klingenberg group focuses on understanding the behavior of suspensions of various kinds by combining experiments probing microstructure and rheology, molecular simulation techniques, and theoretical development.
  • The Loo group designs, synthesizes and characterizes novel polymer materials. Applications include energy storage devices, sustainable materials, and plastics upcycling.
  • The Lynn group synthesizes and characterizes new types of materials, surfaces, and interfaces that have potential utility in a broad range of fundamental and applied contexts.
  • The Mavrikakis group designs new catalytic materials and robust and selective chemoresponsive systems for sensor applications.
  • The Schreier group designs mdesigns materials with precise catalytic active sites and investigates the role of electrolyte additives, such as ionic liquids, to promote electrocatalytic reactions including CO2 reduction and the sustainable synthesis of building block chemicals.
  • The Spagnolie* group studies problems in biological propulsion, cell mechanics, and fluid-body interaction systems using a number of techniques, from the application of classical methods of applied mathematics to the development of novel numerical methods.
  • The Van Lehn group applies molecular-scale simulations to derive design guidelines for soft materials and understand molecular transport across soft interfaces.
  • The Yin lab explores the chemical origins of life, engineering environments to promote the de novo polymerization and self-replication of peptides and RNA.
  • The Avraamidou group focuses on the development and use of mathematical models, optimization algorithms, and data science tools for the understanding, analysis, and optimization of process systems.
  • The Cersonsky lab uses mathematics and machine learning to develop software that can accurately and quickly evaluate multiscale interactions and provide insight into the underlying phenomena or data structures.
  • The Graham group uses and develops theoretical, simulation, and machine learning tools for simulating, understanding and controlling complex flow phenomena.
  • The Klingenberg group focuses on understanding the behavior of suspensions of various kinds by combining experiments probing microstructure and rheology, molecular simulation techniques, and theoretical development.
  • The Mavrikakis group performs large scale atomistic computations based on quantum mechanics enabling the calculation of reaction energies and barriers, which are then utilized in microkinetic models and AI-algorithms for describing materials and processes at macroscopic length/time scales.
  • The Raman* laboratory research program aims to develop technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, computation, and engineering to understand the fundamental principles of biomolecular and cellular systems.
  • The Romero* group explores the interface between artificial intelligence and biological design. The group studies AI systems to imagine new biomolecules, metabolic networks, and cellular functions to address global challenges in energy, industrial chemistry, and human health.
  • The Spagnolie* group studies problems in biological propulsion, cell mechanics, and fluid-body interaction systems using a number of techniques, from the application of classical methods of applied mathematics to the development of novel numerical methods.
  • The Swaney group studies strategies for design synthesis, modeling, and optimization, and develops new software tools for computer-aided design.
  • The Van Lehn group uses classical molecular dynamics simulations, advanced sampling methods, and machine learning to study and engineer the behavior of soft and biological materials.
  • The Venturelli* lab develops and integrates experimental and computational approaches to design and understand microbiomes, biological networks and host-microbe interactions using tools from systems and synthetic biology
  • The Yin lab advances mechanistic and data-driven computational models to advance our understanding of the chemical origins of life, virus dynamics, and human physiological systems.
  • The Zavala group focuses on the development of models, algorithms, and software for optimization, control, data science, and systems engineering.

Impact Areas

  • The Avraamidou group develops tools for the integration of planning, scheduling, and control that can enable the automation of and efficient operation of industrial plants.
  • The Boydston* group seeks to discover and develop new polymerization methods and establish complete chemical control over every voxel within 3D printed multimaterial systems.
  • The Cersonsky lab uses simulation to understand and design crystal and fluid-phase materials through self- and directed-assembly, including hierarchical assembly.
  • The Dudley lab researches the sustainable production of useful biomolecules with a particular focus on cell-free and plant synthetic biology.
  • The Gebbie lab studies electrolytes and interfaces to enable distributed chemical manufacturing and composite electrolyte-separators for advanced batteries.
  • The Gopalan* group develops easy-to-scale polymer coatings that can be applied on 2D and 3D platforms to enable bio-manufacturing of therapeutic cell lines.
  • The Graham group develops the fundamental underpinnings of flow phenomena arising in processing of 2D materials as well as surfactant and polymer solutions.
  • The Loo group studies how to leverage polymer-based materials in additive manufacturing, nanofabrication and advanced lithography and patterning techniques.
  • The Lynn group develops new strategies to synthesize, assemble, and fabricate new classes of advanced organic materials.
  • The Palecek group develops low-cost, robust, scalable processes to manufacture specialized cells from human pluripotent stem cells to advance commercial and clinical applications in related to human health.
  • The Pfleger group studies biomanufacturing approaches for producing needed fuels, chemicals, proteins, and natural products.
  • The Raman* laboratory develops high-throughput technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, and computation to understand and engineer biomolecular and cellular systems for biomanufacturing applications.
  • The Schreier group takes a fundamental approach to electrocatalysis to produce chemicals and fuels from CO2 and to develop entirely new avenues to make chemicals using renewable electricity.
  • The Van Lehn group designs solvent-mediated processes for energy-efficient separations and molecular self-assembly.
  • The Zavala group develops methodologies to understand the interplay between manufacturing technologies, markets, and policy.
  • The Avraamidou group develops optimization-based infrastructure planning and operation tools to analyze the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of energy transition scenarios.
  • The Gebbie lab is exploring how ionic liquids and other correlated electrolytes can provide new opportunities to control electrochemical reactivity and enable beyond-lithium batteries for grid and transportation electrification.
  • The Gopalan* group designs functional polymeric materials and self-assembly strategies to enable microelectronics, optoelectronics, and solar cell materials.
  • The Graham group is studying how flow processes can be manipulated to have lower energy losses.
  • The Huber research group is developing economical processes for the production of renewable gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel.
  • The Krishna group designs heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable production and use of fuels and chemicals from renewable carbon sources.
  • The Loo group designs novel polymer-based electrolytes and membranes for energy storage applications.
  • The Mavrikakis group designs improved catalysts and electrocatalysts that lower the energy requirement for chemical reactions to occur and increase the efficiency of energy production devices.
  • The Pfleger group is interested in the production of energy carriers using biocatalysts. Projects produce hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide using renewable electron sources (photosynthesis or cheap electricity).
  • The Schreier group explores the storage of renewable electricity in fuels through CO2 reduction and develops novel avenues for the use of high energy density liquid fuels using a fundamental understanding of electrocatalysis.
  • The Zavala group is exploring the integration of technologies such as electrolysis, energy storage, and data centers to provide flexibility services to the power grid and to enable decarbonization.
  • The Avraamidou group is developing tools that can accelerate the transition of chemical, plastic and food supply chains towards a circular economy.
  • The Dudley lab researches the sustainable production of useful biomolecules with a particular focus on cell-free and plant synthetic biology.
  • The Gebbie lab studies self-assembled electrolytes and interfaces in pursuit of new paradigms for recycling waste carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other industrial byproducts.
  • The Hermans* group focuses on the sustainable synthesis of chemicals using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.
  • The Huber research group is developing clean catalytic technologies for the production of the full spectrum of products that are currently derived from petroleum-derived feedstocks from renewable feedstocks.
  • The Krishna group designs catalysts for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals, and environmental pollution control of toxic and greenhouse gases.
  • The Loo group develops next generation polymer-based materials with increased recyclability and processibility for plastics upcycling.
  • The Lynn group develops new strategies for the synthesis of degradable materials and new approaches to fabrication that minimize environmental impact.
  • The Mavrikakis group designs improved catalysts which are capable of: (1) directing reaction selectivity away from producing environment polluting byproducts and (2) decompose polymers towards their efficient upcycling.
  • The Pfleger group studies the use of biocatalysts for producing needed molecules and recycling environmental wastes such as carbon dioxide, phosphorus, nitrogen, and lignocellulosic biomass.
  • The Root group collaborates on alternative strategies to eliminate waste from pharmaceutical processes and to shift polymer production from fossil feedstocks to biomass components.
  • The Schreier group investigates ways to use renewable electricity to recycle plastics, make chemicals and fuels from CO2, and produce chemical feedstocks from biomass-derived substrates using electrocatalysis.
  • The Van Lehn group computationally guides the design of processes to convert renewable biomass feedstocks to fuels and chemicals and to recycle plastic waste.
  • The Zavala group is using systems engineering techniques to guide the design of plastic recycling and upcycling technologies and to mitigate nutrient pollution of valuable water resources.
  • The Graham group's work on blood flow sheds light on the mechanisms underlying complications arising from blood disorders.
  • The Lynn group designs new materials and coatings that prevent microbial fouling and infection, control the release of drugs, and sense or report the presence of toxins and other environmental agents.
  • The Mavrikakis group designs robust and selective chemoresponsive sensors capable of monitoring air pollution at work and residential premises.
  • The Ngo group develops human tissue models to study how the interactions between different cell types influence tissue development, regeneration, and disease; specific interests include vascular development, neural regeneration, and cancer. These insights will be used to re-purpose tissue models as tissue therapies, in which cell-cell communication can be programmed to guide regenerative outcomes.
  • The Palecek group builds human pluripotent stem cell-derived models to study mechanisms of disease and generates functional therapeutic cells from stem cells to advance efforts in regenerative medicine.
  • The Pfleger group studies the production of natural products and proteins used as pharmaceuticals and therapeutics.
  • The Raman* laboratory seeks to understand the functional impact of variants in disease-relevant human genes using deep phenotyping measurements and designs new gene delivery systems and vaccines.
  • The Romero* group explores the interface between artificial intelligence and biological design. The group studies AI systems to imagine new biomolecules, metabolic networks, and cellular functions to address global challenges in energy, industrial chemistry, and human health.
  • The Schauer* group develops tools to address the impacts of air pollution on human health, climate change and sensitive ecosystems, and to support the development of control strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution.
  • The Shusta group develops cell-based models of the blood-brain barrier to better understand brain development and maintenance in health and disease (with Palecek). We also develop antibodies capable of ferrying drug cargo to the brain for treatment of brain disease.
  • The Van Lehn group designs new classes of nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery and the sensing of disease biomarkers.
  • The Venturelli* lab studies how microbial interaction networks impact the assembly, stability and functions of the human gut microbiome. In addition, we design novel circuits in key commensal or probiotic bacteria to sense and respond to environmental stimuli for therapeutic applications.
  • The Yin lab's development of quantitative wet-lab experiments and computational modeling is advancing our understanding of virus-host interactions and strategies to promote human health.