Plasma physics and dynamics applied to space power and propulsion, plasma gasification for waste disposal, environmental acoustics

Characterizing and engineering plant-microbe interactions at plant-microbe interfaces.  We explore the mechanisms of interaction between non-model bacteria and living plants or lignocellulosic biomass. Then using this mechanistic understanding we engineer these bacteria, plants, and/or their interactions to develop new technologies for the bio-agriculture or bio-energy industries.

Fusion energy research, theoretical plasma physics, nuclear reactor physics, Astrophysical plasmas.

The economics and regulation of energy markets to account for environmental and reliability needs of society. Understand the incentives created under various regulatory schemes and the trade-offs inherent in policy decision-making.

Our group is passionate about addressing pressing needs in both human health and the health of the planet, and inspired by the integrated, hierarchical materials ubiquitously leveraged by the natural world. We aim to address these needs via synthetic systems that use a combination of molecular level polymer design, controlled local self-assembly, and structural integration and alignment via additive manufacturing to achieve functional, hierarchical materials featuring structural control from the molecular to the macroscopic.

We achieve this by working at the intersection of polymer synthesis, polymer characterization, polymer physics and self-assembly, and additive manufacturing.
Our specific research interests include: (1) investigating fundamental science linking polymer structure and function in new classes of stimuli-responsive and actuating elastomers and gels, (2) programming alignment and integration of functional polymers via additive manufacturing, linking local structure-directing processes with emergent properties and new applications, and (3) developing sustainable and degradable polymers and block copolymers.

Molecular modeling of hydrate melting and formation as possible approach to carbon sequestration; molecular modeling of heterogeneous ice nucleation for improved weather and climate models; computational modeling of phase behavior of water, carbon dioxide and salt mixtures for carbon capture and storage and geothermal energy production; computational investigation of water in nafion membranes for fuel cells; desalination with gas hydrates for improved fresh water production and greater energy efficiency

Numerical and experimental studies of turbulent multi-phase flows in environmental systems, air-sea interaction, waves and breaking waves, drops and bubbles

DiBenedetto’s research focuses on fundamental fluid mechanics with applications towards oceanography, biology, environmental contaminants, and renewable energy. Our lab uses a variety of tools including laboratory experiments, mathematical modeling, and field observations.

Developing theory and computational methods for the design and discovery of materials and chemicals for energy and sustainability. Our work covers methods enabling more efficient and effective ways of doing simulation and sampling, generative modeling, and active search. We’re particularly fond of nanoporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Our work has enabled the discovery of novel MOFs for NH3 adsorption that are energy-efficient, thermally stable, and high-capacity.

The Dincă Lab is focused on addressing research challenges related to the storage and consumption of energy and global environmental concerns. Central to our efforts is the synthesis of novel organic-inorganic hybrid materials and the manipulation of their electrochemical and photophysical properties, with a current emphasis on microporous materials.

Inorganic and organic synthesis, as well as rigorous physical characterization are the cornerstones of our research. Students and post-doctoral researchers will gain synthetic skills spanning inorganic (Schlenk & Glove Box techniques), solid state, solvothermal, and organic chemistry (for ligand synthesis). We employ a range of characterization techniques: single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, gas-sorption analysis, electrochemistry, thermogravimetry and various spectroscopic techniques: NMR, UV-Vis, IR, EPR, etc. These allow us to delineate important structure-function relationships that guide us in the design of new materials with predesigned physical properties.