The William States Lee College of Engineering
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
The Performance Materials Lab (PML) at UNC Charlotte is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of our global water quality initiative. Following our successful campaign in the Caribbean, we are turning our gaze to the South Pacific in a new collaboration with Dr. Ulyana Nadia Horodyskyj. We are preparing to receive and test samples from … Read more
The Performance Materials Lab (PML) at UNC Charlotte is excited to announce the next phase of our ongoing research into coastal water health. Our partners at the Sustainable Seas Institute (SSI) have successfully returned from their ten-day expedition through the Lesser Antilles, delivering a critical new dataset directly to our shoreside facilities. A Collaborative Success … Read more
From December 30 to January 8, the Performance Materials Lab team will be heading into the Lesser Antilles for a multi-island expedition across St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. This ten‑day journey will launch our new year of research and education with a focus on vibrant tropical ecosystems, coastal communities, and the changing health of … 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
Wrapped up my time in Boston after the fantastic AIChE conference with a couple of truly inspiring visits to two of the world’s leading academic powerhouses! First stop was MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The energy of innovation there is palpable—from new structural materials and quantum computing applications to advanced biomaterials and sustainable … Read more
I’m back in the lab at UNC Charlotte after an incredibly rewarding time at the AIChE Annual Meeting in Boston! This premier event for chemical engineers is always a fantastic opportunity to dive deep into the latest research and network with colleagues, and this year was no exception. What I Learned The technical program was … Read more
We are excited to announce that Dr. Tipton has been appointed to the board of directors at the Polymer Center of Excellence. This is a great honor for me, and I am looking forward to serving in this role. The Polymer Center of Excellence is a world-renowned organization that is dedicated to advancing the science … Read more