Performance Materials Lab

REU Student Derek Heidenfelder Wraps Up a Great Summer in PML

July 27, 2026 by Roger Tipton

This summer, the Performance Materials Laboratory (PML) had the pleasure of hosting Derek Heidenfelder as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) student. Derek spent the summer running density functional theory (DFT) calculations on advanced semiconductor materials for energy applications, using the UNC Charlotte supercomputer to carry out his simulations. Computational materials research requires a different … Read more

PML Undergraduates Shine at the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Research Symposium

July 22, 2026 by Roger Tipton

The Performance Materials Laboratory (PML) had a wonderful showing at this year’s UNC Charlotte Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium, where undergraduate researchers Shamar Lindo and Liam Eckhart presented their poster on extracting nanocellulose from hemp hurd agricultural waste. Their work was coauthored by Ali Alkhabbaz and PhD candidate Md Shah Nawaz Arafin, who served as … Read more

Performance Materials Lab Celebrates Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati’s Acceptance to Brown University

July 14, 2026 by Roger Tipton

It is with great pride that I share some exciting news from the Performance Materials Laboratory (PML): Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati has been accepted into the graduate program at Brown University. This achievement is a testament to Madhava’s dedication, intellectual curiosity, and the countless hours he has invested in his research and coursework. Brown University … Read more

Returning to the Classroom: Mechatronics II, Fall 2026

June 4, 2026 by Roger Tipton

I am pleased to share that I will once again be teaching Mechatronics II this fall semester. I really love teaching this course, and I look forward to working with a new group of students as they push their understanding of integrated mechanical, electrical, and software systems into genuinely applied territory. Mechatronics II builds directly … Read more

Welcome to Charlotte: The 2026 REU Cohort Arrives on Campus

May 21, 2026 by Roger Tipton

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

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Visits UNC Charlotte: Dr. Cait Clarkson Brings the Future of Sustainable Manufacturing to Our Department

May 18, 2026May 12, 2026 by Roger Tipton

The UNC Charlotte Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science welcomed Dr. Caitlyn Clarkson from Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility today for a Spring 2026 seminar that gave our faculty and students a front-row seat to some genuinely exciting applied materials science. Dr. Clarkson’s talk, “Large Scale Additive Manufacturing of Biobased and Biodegradable … Read more

Congratulations, Andrew McPartland: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

April 30, 2026 by Roger Tipton

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

From the Shop Floor to the Sensor: Marley Magnotta’s Work on Wearable Gloves for Worker Health and Safety

April 28, 2026 by Roger Tipton

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

Outstanding Undergraduate Research: Evaluating Materials for Hypersonic and Spacecraft Applications

May 18, 2026April 27, 2026 by Roger Tipton

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

PML Undergraduate Researcher Presents at NCUR 2026

April 17, 2026 by Roger Tipton

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

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