As a graduate student in Hugh Hillhouse’s research group, Yuhuan is investigating bismuth rudorffites, a promising new material for the top cell in solution-processed tandem perovskites. These lead-free wide bandgap semiconductors could potentially serve as a high-performance alternative to the lead-based materials in hybrid perovskite solar cells currently used to increase the power conversion efficiency of solar cells while lowering their overall cost. A deeper understanding of bismuth rudorffites could enable the development of low-cost tandem solar cells from non-toxic elements. Read More
As a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Baneyx in the department of chemical engineering, Jinrong developed hierarchical hybrid architectures comprising peptoids, proteins, and inorganics. Using sequence-defined peptoids as scaffolding blocks and solid-binding proteins as functional blocks, Jinrong we synthesized a variety of hybrid hierarchical nanostructures that take advantage of the excellent programmability of peptoids, and of the ability of structurally organized solid-binding proteins to control the binding, nucleation, and growth of various inorganic components. Jinrong graduated in 2022 and he is now a senior associate scientist in 23andMe working on the development of novel therapeutic antibodies. Read More
As a graduate student in the labs of chemical engineering professor James Carothers and chemistry professor Jesse Zalatan, Ice is developing CRISPR-based transcriptional activation methods in multiple bacteria to apply in industrial biotechnological applications. He previously worked as a researcher at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) in Thailand developing biocatalytic systems for chemical synthesis from food/agricultural wastes. Ice holds a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from Mahidol University, Thailand. Read More
Kacper carried out research in Professor Lilo Pozzo’s lab in which he applied experiment automation and small-angle scattering techniques to study the self-assembly of a variety of colloidal systems. He is interested in continuing to learn about statistical design of experiments and applying his experiences in process engineering or formulation science positions in the Seattle area. Read More
Under the guidance of Chemistry Professor David Ginger and Materials Science & Engineering Professor Christine Luscombe, Emerson is studying interactions between solvated conjugated polymers, ions, and electrons in order to effectively engineer a polymer with better ion and electron transport. These polymers, known as Organic Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductors (OMIECs), have potential applications in energy storage, biosensors, and neuromorphic computing. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University. Read More
As a graduate student in the lab of chemical engineering professor James Carothers, Ben dissected the rules governing development of CRISPRai gene regulatory networks in cellular and cell free systems to enable scalable transcriptional control in a prokaryotic setting. Ben is now the Lead Applications Engineer at Wayfinder Biosciences, a startup co-founded by fellow molecular engineering alumni. Read More
As a graduate student in the labs of Professors Rene Overney and Mehmet Sarikaya, Tyler studied the fundamental molecular interactions between protein-like molecules and atomically thin inorganic materials to enable future technologies such as medical diagnostics. More specifically, he utilized scanning probe microscopy techniques to understand the self-assembly process and energetics of genetically engineered solid-binding peptides on single layer atomic materials. Since completing his Ph.D. in 2020, Tyler joined Professor Stuart Rowan’s lab at the University of Chicago’s Molecular Engineering department as a postdoctoral scholar. Read More
Research in the Baneyx laboratory lies at the confluence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology, molecular engineering and materials science. We are a lead lab in CSSAS, the Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales, an Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) directed by Prof. Baneyx that brings together investigators from six universities and a national laboratory. Inspired by nature’s ability to fabricate intricate and often hierarchical materials with outstanding transport, optical, and magnetic properties, we seek to understand the rules that underpin the interaction of combinatorially-selected solid-binding peptides with inorganic and synthetic interfaces. Read More
Professor Hillhouse's research is focused on the molecular science and engineering of clean energy conversion devices. In the area of solar cells, research topics in his group span the range from fundamental studies of semiconductor nanocrystal growth, colloidal and interfacial chemistry, nanostructure self-assembly, and semiconductor defect chemistry to the development of novel device architectures that will enable roll-to-roll printing of low-cost high-efficiency solar cells from molecular and nanocrystal-inks. Read More
Our research is focused on the molecular engineering of organic and polymeric materials for electronic, photonic, and energy applications. Our studies include synthesis, processing, self-assembly, structure-property relationships, photophysics, and charge transport of organic and polymer semiconductors. Ongoing device engineering applications include thin film transistors, photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, and photodetectors. Read More