Where Materials Meet Mission<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAdvancing clean water, next-generation coatings, and sustainable materials science from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Powered by 25 years of industry know-how and rigorous fundamental science.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nExplore Research<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nMeet Dr. Tipton<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Composite](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2023\/12\/Flexible-Sensor.png?resize=395%2C376&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Biobased](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2023\/01\/biobased-materials-challenges-and-concepts-e1648149997675.png?resize=768%2C612&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Artic\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2024\/08\/Majestic-Photo-of-the-Real-Life-North-Pole-7.jpg?resize=700%2C466&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nFlexible sensing and wearables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Utilizing flexible sensors and wearables to understand how the human body interacts with the world around us…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nComposite materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Development of new bio-based and sustainable composite materials for a better future for us and the planet…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nClean water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Our research delves into the critical issue of water pollution, examining its impacts on both freshwater and ocean environments …<\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Research Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Performance Materials Laboratory at UNC Charlotte advances materials science at the intersection of high-performance engineering and environmental sustainability. Our research addresses two parallel imperatives: developing next-generation materials that outperform conventional options in demanding applications, and understanding the chemical contaminants, including PFAS and microplastics, that threaten water systems globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We operate at the boundary between fundamental science and applied engineering. Federal sponsors including the National Science Foundation fund our basic research programs, while direct industry partnerships ensure our discoveries move toward real-world deployment. Field research extends beyond the laboratory to open-ocean and coastal environments through our partnership with the Sustainable Seas Institute and its research vessel R\/V Dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our team brings together researchers from materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental science. This breadth is not incidental. The problems we work on require it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nDr. Roger Tipton<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-24-200109.png?resize=634%2C487&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nRoger Tipton is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at UNC Charlotte, where he directs the Performance Materials Laboratory. He holds pending patent applications on advanced materials and is the principal investigator on an active NSF award examining transarctic contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before entering academia, Dr. Tipton spent 25 years in industry, progressing from manufacturing engineer to chief executive. That background shapes how he trains researchers, structures projects, and evaluates whether a discovery has real-world legs. He chairs the board of the Sustainable Seas Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates R\/V Dawn for ocean research in partnership with UNC Charlotte, and serves on the board of the Polymer Center of Excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nSelect Publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- T.L. Powell, J.J. Doughty, Y. Shimabukuro, C.L. Kirschner, R.B. Tipton<\/strong>, Consumer food waste upcycled into lignocellulosic materials that are utilized in polyethene biocomposites<\/a>, MRS Advances<\/em>, June 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How I navigated through my midlife PhD<\/a>, R.B. Tipton, Nature<\/em>, 2022<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Roger B. Tipton, Dianhao Hou, Zhimin Shi, Thomas M. Weller, Venkat R. Bhethanabotla, Optical interconnects on a flexible substrate by multi-material hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing<\/a>, Additive Manufacturing Journal<\/em>, Volume 48, Part A, 2021<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Digital fabrication of a small diameter polymer optical waveguide<\/a>, VR Bhethanabotla, TM Weller, RB Tipton, JT Bentley\u2026 – US Patent 10,852,479, 2020<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Roger B. Tipton, Dianhao Hou, Eduardo A. Rojas-Nastrucci, Thomas M. Weller, Venkat R. Bhethanabotla, Laser Enhanced Direct Print Additive Manufacturing of Embedded Circular Cross-Section Optical Fiber Interconnects for Board Level Computing Devices<\/a>, Additive Manufacturing Journal<\/em>, Volume 34, 2020<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
View All Publications<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAbout Publications Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Our group is working at the interface of materials science, electronics, and additive manufacturing with the goal of advancing understanding of sustainable biomaterials, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- We specialize in both computational and experimental studies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- We engage with government agencies and industrial partners to maximize the impact of our work and maximize the benefits to society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For more information on the research of our group please feel free to contact Roger Tipton.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
News & Field Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n- \n\n\n
![\"Welcome](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2026\/05\/REU_05182026_2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1200%2C675&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWelcome to Charlotte: The 2026 REU Cohort Arrives on Campus<\/a><\/h2>\n\nNine 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li>
- \n\n\n
![\"Oak](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-7.47.54-PM.png?resize=647%2C509&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOak Ridge National Laboratory Visits UNC Charlotte: Dr. Cait Clarkson Brings the Future of Sustainable Manufacturing to Our Department<\/a><\/h2>\n\nThe 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li>
- \n\n\n
![\"Congratulations,](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/files\/2026\/04\/IMG_6992-scaled-e1777143356222.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1014&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCongratulations, Andrew McPartland: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering<\/a><\/h2>\n\nNot 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
– PERFORMANCE MATERIALS LAB | EPIC HALL 3186 Where Materials Meet Mission Advancing clean water, next-generation coatings, and sustainable materials science from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Powered by 25 years of industry know-how and rigorous fundamental science. Flexible sensing and wearables Utilizing flexible sensors and wearables to understand how the human body interacts with … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35","page","type-page","status-publish"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/298"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1425,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions\/1425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Advancing clean water, next-generation coatings, and sustainable materials science from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Powered by 25 years of industry know-how and rigorous fundamental science.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFlexible sensing and wearables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Utilizing flexible sensors and wearables to understand how the human body interacts with the world around us…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Development of new bio-based and sustainable composite materials for a better future for us and the planet…<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Our research delves into the critical issue of water pollution, examining its impacts on both freshwater and ocean environments …<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The Performance Materials Laboratory at UNC Charlotte advances materials science at the intersection of high-performance engineering and environmental sustainability. Our research addresses two parallel imperatives: developing next-generation materials that outperform conventional options in demanding applications, and understanding the chemical contaminants, including PFAS and microplastics, that threaten water systems globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We operate at the boundary between fundamental science and applied engineering. Federal sponsors including the National Science Foundation fund our basic research programs, while direct industry partnerships ensure our discoveries move toward real-world deployment. Field research extends beyond the laboratory to open-ocean and coastal environments through our partnership with the Sustainable Seas Institute and its research vessel R\/V Dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our team brings together researchers from materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental science. This breadth is not incidental. The problems we work on require it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Roger Tipton is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at UNC Charlotte, where he directs the Performance Materials Laboratory. He holds pending patent applications on advanced materials and is the principal investigator on an active NSF award examining transarctic contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before entering academia, Dr. Tipton spent 25 years in industry, progressing from manufacturing engineer to chief executive. That background shapes how he trains researchers, structures projects, and evaluates whether a discovery has real-world legs. He chairs the board of the Sustainable Seas Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates R\/V Dawn for ocean research in partnership with UNC Charlotte, and serves on the board of the Polymer Center of Excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n View All Publications<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Our group is working at the interface of materials science, electronics, and additive manufacturing with the goal of advancing understanding of sustainable biomaterials, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information on the research of our group please feel free to contact Roger Tipton.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li> 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li> 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… <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" – PERFORMANCE MATERIALS LAB | EPIC HALL 3186 Where Materials Meet Mission Advancing clean water, next-generation coatings, and sustainable materials science from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Powered by 25 years of industry know-how and rigorous fundamental science. Flexible sensing and wearables Utilizing flexible sensors and wearables to understand how the human body interacts with … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35","page","type-page","status-publish"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/298"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1425,"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions\/1425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coefs.charlotte.edu\/rtipton2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Composite materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clean water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
About Research Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Roger Tipton<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>Select Publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
About Publications Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
News & Field Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWelcome to Charlotte: The 2026 REU Cohort Arrives on Campus<\/a><\/h2>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOak Ridge National Laboratory Visits UNC Charlotte: Dr. Cait Clarkson Brings the Future of Sustainable Manufacturing to Our Department<\/a><\/h2>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCongratulations, Andrew McPartland: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering<\/a><\/h2>\n\n