Advanced Materials

Creating the next generation of materials that optimize health, sustainability, efficiency and affordability

The range of elements available for device production has exploded in the past 20 years, enabling entirely new classes of electronic and mechanical products, biomedical implants, tissues, coatings and more.

We’re leaders in the world of advanced materials, with three of our school’s seven departments moving this field forward: Materials, Macromolecular Science and Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. And with our home in Northeast Ohio—a region brimming with material and chemical industry leaders—we collaborate on moving the latest materials technologies quickly from research to use.

Centers and institutes that conduct research in Advanced Materials

Center for Advanced Polymer Processing

Develops new advanced and functional multiphase complex materials and optimizes the performance of existing ones by integrating the most advanced experimental and computational capabilities. 

Solar Panel and Sunflower

SDLE Research Center

Studies solar photovoltaic and other outdoor exposed technologies using degradation science, data science and analytics.

Faculty who conduct research in Advanced Materials

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Rohan Akolkar

Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation
Chief Scientist (Joint Appointmet), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Professor, Chemical Engineering
Director, Electronic Design Center (EDC)

Develops new electrochemical processes for applications including nano-material fabrication, energy storage, electrometallurgy and sensors

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Hoda Amani Hamedani

Research Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops multifunctional materials and flexible nanostructured platforms for electrochemical and biomedical devices, localized drug delivery, neural interfacing, and electrochemical sensing; studies nanomaterials evolution/interactions in controlled (liquid) environments using in-situ characterization techniques

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Eric Baer

Distinguished University Professor
Herbert Henry Dow Professor of Science and Engineering
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Director, NSF Center for Layered Polymeric Systems

Develops processing-structure-property relationships in polymeric systems; creates micro- and nano-layered films; and produces biomimetic hierarchical structures of soft materials

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Harihara Baskaran

Department Chair, Chemical Engineering
Professor, Chemical Engineering

Understands and solves problems in biology and medicine using transport principles

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Laura Bruckman

Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops predictive lifetime models for materials degradation related to stress conditions and induced degradation mechanisms evaluated by quantitative spectroscopic characterization of materials

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Changyong (Chase) Cao

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Study the mechanics, designs, and manufacturing of smart multifunctional materials, soft robotics, soft electronics, and self-powered sensing systems.

Soft Machines & Electronics Lab

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Jeff Capadona

Associate Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Engineers biomaterials-based strategies to improve the performance and longevity of central nervous system implanted devices

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Jennifer Carter

Faculty Director, SCSAM
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

deformation mechanisms of metals and metal-matrix composites; fatigue, fracture, and creep; failure analysis; electron microscopy; 3D microscopy; novel methodologies for multi-scale material characterization; data science and analytics; open science

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Sunniva Collins

Associate Dean, Case School of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Engineers metallic surfaces for improved performance; selects materials and designs manufacturing processes for innovative outcomes

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Mark De Guire

Associate Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering

Analyzes performance of ceramics in energy applications, including fuel cells and oxygen transport membranes

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Christine Duval

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops separation materials and processes to benefit nuclear medicine, environmental protection, and nuclear waste recycling and remediation.

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Steven Eppell

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Designs, synthesizes and tests orthopedic biomaterials using biomimetic strategies emphasizing nanoscale structures and self-assembly

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Frank Ernst

Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
Leonard Case Jr. Professor of Engineering
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Studies and engineers microstructures, interfaces and surfaces of metallic materials by novel methods of processing and microcharacterization

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Donald Feke

Vice Provost, Case Western Reserve University
Distinguished University Professor
Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops novel polymeric materials and ultrasonic-based separation processes for nano- and microscale multi-phase systems

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Roger French

Kyocera Professor
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, SDLE Research Center

Applies data science and analytics to energy and materials science research problems

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Michael Hore

Warren E. Rupp Associate Professor
Associate Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Combines experiments, theory and simulation to study fundamental problems in the polymer physics of grafted and non-linear polymers

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Hatsuo Ishida

Peter A. Asseff, PhD Professor of Organic Chemistry
Distinguished Research Professor
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops advanced benzoxazine resins, thermosetting resins based on natural renewable materials and green flame retarding systems

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Daniel Lacks

Associate Dean, Academics
C. Benson Branch Professor
Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops first-principles molecular-scale theories of chemical processes and materials properties

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Peter Lagerlof

Associate Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops a unified theory for plastic deformation via slip and deformation twinning

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John Lewandowski

Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering II
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator
Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC)

Researches material reliability for biomedical and structural applications, advanced materials manufacturing and processing/microstructure/property relationships. Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing.

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Ya-Ting Liao

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Creates computational models of combustion, fire and fire behavior and develops fire-resistant structures

Computational Fire Dynamics Lab

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Joao Maia

Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Director, CAPP - Center for Advanced Polymer Processing

Develops multi-scale, complex polymer-based materials, using both experimental and computational-based tools

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Ica Manas-Zloczower

Distinguished University Professor
Thomas W. and Nancy P. Seitz Professor of Advanced Materials and Energy
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Engineering new materials and technologies for industrial applications

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Heidi Martin

Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops diamond electrodes for electrochemical and neural device applications

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David Matthiesen

Associate Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Wind Energy Research and Commercialization (WERC) Center

Develops process engineering solutions for the manufacturing of new magnetic materials

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Jim McGuffin-Cawley

Director
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new methodologies for material processing, characterizes processing-property relationships, studies high-temperature diffusion and solid-state reactions, fosters industry-university relationships

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Julie Renner

Dean's Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops biomolecular platforms to control solid-liquid interfaces and enable a new generation of advanced technologies

Publications

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Clare Rimnac

Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering
Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Advances the long-term performance of implants and structural bone allografts through material analysis and characterization

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Valentin Rodionov

Assistant Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Investigates catalysis with soft materials: catalytic surfactants and polymers; complex macromolecular architectures for bio-inspired catalysis; and ligand-mediated nanocatalysis

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Robert Savinell

George S. Dively Professor in Engineering
Distinguished University Professor
Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops high-performance electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies through fundamental and applied studies of interfacial and transport processes

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David Schiraldi

Professor Emeritus, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops bio-based, flame-retarded plastics, polymer aerogels and packaging materials; and studies properties of polyesters

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Alp Sehirlioglu

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new materials through exploitation of interfaces to control functionality and exploration of multi-functionality for energy-related applications

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Tina Vrabec

Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Develops novel waveforms and electrodes for downregulation of the nervous system for clinical applications including peripheral, autonomic and pain

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Robert Warburton

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

Develops computational models of interfacial chemical reactions relevant to applications in catalysis and energy storage

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Gerhard Welsch

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new processing methods and designs for energy storage and optimized materials

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Matthew Willard

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Investigates phase transformations and materials processing, especially their impact on structure and properties of materials

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Gary Wnek

Department Chair, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Joseph F. Toot, Jr., Professor of Engineering
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops advanced polymers for packaging, biomaterial applications and more.

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Bill Yu

Department Chair, Civil Engineering
Opal J. and Richard A. Vanderhoof Professorship
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Multiscale multiphysics processes in geosystems and infrastructure, interdisciplinary innovations in intelligent infrastructure technologies towards resilience and sustainability.

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Huichun (Judy) Zhang

Frank H. Neff Professorship in Civil Engineering
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Examines fate and transformation of environmental contaminants in natural and engineered environments and develops advanced water/wastewater treatment technologies

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Lei Zhu

Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops high-energy and high-performance polymers based on close relationships among structure, property and processing