The William States Lee College of Engineering
Nine undergraduate researchers begin their summer at UNC Charlotte, joining research groups across the College of Engineering. One joins the Performance Materials Laboratory. There is something about a first day that never gets old. Nine undergraduate researchers arrived on campus this week to begin the summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at UNC Charlotte, and … Read more
Not every student I get to watch grow and succeed works in my lab. Some of the most rewarding moments in this job come from watching people you have only briefly worked alongside go on to do genuinely impressive things. Andrew McPartland is one of those people. On April 24th, 2026, Andrew successfully defended his … Read more
Good engineering solves real problems for real people. Marley Magnotta’s undergraduate research this semester did exactly that, and she presented it with the confidence and clarity of someone who understands both what she built and why it matters. At the UNC Charlotte undergraduate research symposium, Marley presented her project titled “Wearable Flexible Sensors for Injury … Read more
One of the most rewarding parts of directing a research laboratory is watching undergraduate students tackle genuinely hard problems and deliver results that advance the field. This semester, Paul Travers and John Tran did exactly that. I am proud to share that Paul and John recently presented their research at the UNC Charlotte undergraduate research … Read more
Performance Materials Laboratory undergraduate researcher Sam Phillips traveled to Richmond, Virginia this month to present original research at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), held April 13-15 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University. Sam’s presentation, titled “Modeling the Transport of Forever Chemicals in the Arctic Ocean,” examined … Read more
I am very excited to be teaching Mechatronics again this spring. This course remains a cornerstone of modern engineering education, serving as a vital bridge across traditionally separate disciplines. The Contemporary Engineering Mandate The unrelenting progression of automation, robotics, and complex cyber-physical systems decisively dictates that the next generation of engineers must possess a truly … Read more
The Performance Materials Lab (PML) is absolutely bursting with pride and excitement as we announce the successful completion of the Master of Science (M.S.) degree by one of our exceptional team members, Md. Shah Arafin! Arafin has been an invaluable part of our research group, and his dedication, intellect, and hard work have been truly … Read more
What does it look like when a high school science class connects live with researchers working at the top of the world? On September 24, students in Craig Arkfeld’s Environmental Science class at Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, found out firsthand. Dr. Roger Tipton, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Performance … Read more
First-Time Author Publishes Groundbreaking PFAS Data We’re thrilled to announce the publication of a significant new paper, “Temporal Dataset of Emerging and Legacy PFAS Concentrations (ng/L) in 11 Inland Watersheds (Lakes, Rivers, Islands) and Median PFAS Concentrations Across 14 Seas and Oceans Over Multiple Time Periods.” This marks a major milestone, as it’s the first … Read more
I’m excited to share insights from a recent expedition that my team and I from the Sustainable Seas Institute undertook in the beautiful waters of Martinique. As the Chief Scientist on this cruise, and a faculty member here at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, it’s always a privilege to lead such impactful research, and … Read more