First name,Last name,Preferred title,Overview,Position,Department,Individual
Vishal,Gohil,Associate Professor,"Despite the fundamental role of the mitochondrion in cellular energy production and its involvement in numerous human diseases, we still do not know the function of nearly 20% of the known mitochondrial proteins. My laboratory applies genomic, genetic, and biochemical tools to uncover the role of these uncharacterized proteins in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) biogenesis. MRC is the main site of cellular respiration and energy production and since the core components of the MRC are evolutionarily conserved, we reason that the assembly factors required to build the MRC should also be conserved. Therefore, we utilize multiple models systems, including yeast, zebrafish, and human cell lines, to determine the role of these conserved, uncharacterized mitochondrial proteins in bioenergetics, organismal development, and human disease pathogenesis.
Another poorly understood aspect of the mitochondrial energy metabolism is the role of phospholipids in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the MRC. Although it is well known that the MRC is localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane, how the unique lipid milieu of the mitochondrial membrane influences the assembly and activity of the MRC is not fully understood. We have constructed yeast mutants with defined mitochondrial phospholipid compositions to systematically determine each lipid's role in MRC assembly and activity. Ultimately, defining the roles of mitochondrial proteins and phospholipids will allow us to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic options for human disorders resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction.",Faculty Affiliate||Assistant Professor,Energy Institute||Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n03100e49
John,Gladysz,Distinguished Professor,"My research has traditionally been centered around organometallic chemistry, and from this core area branches into catalysis, organic synthesis, enantioselective reactions, stereochemistry, mechanism, and materials chemistry. About half of my group is involved with catalysis projects. Areas receiving emphasis include (a) structurally novel new families of highly enantioselective catalysts, (b) metal-containing ""organocatalysts"" and (c) recoverable catalysts, particularly those with ""ponytails"" of the formula (CH2)m(CF2)nF; these can be recycled via ""fluorous"" liquid or solid phases, such as Teflon. The other half of my group synthesizes organometallic building blocks for molecular devices. These include (a) molecular wires composed of metal endgroups and linear (sp) carbon chains, including stable species with C28 bridges, (b) analogs in which the charge-transmitting bridges are insulated by a pair of polymethylene or (CH2)n chains that adopt a double-helical conformation, (c) polygons and multistranded molecular wires based upon such building blocks, and (d) molecular gyroscopes and compasses consisting of a rotating MLn fragment and an external cage (stator) that insulates the rotator from neighboring molecules, exactly as with the commercial gyroscopes used for aircraft and space-station navigation.",Faculty Affiliate||Distinguished Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n05e5403e
Donald,Darensbourg,Distinguished Professor,"The fundamentally interesting and challenging chemistry associated with carbon dioxide, coupled with its high potential as a source of chemical carbon, provides adequate justification for comprehensive investigations in this area. In our research program we have attempted to establish a clearer mechanistic view of carbon-hydrogen, carbon-carbon, and carbon-oxygen bond forming processes resulting from carbon dioxide insertion into M-H, M-C, and M-O bonds.
Relevant to the latter process our research has addressed the utilization of carbon dioxide in the development of improved synthetic routes for the production of polycarbonates. The hazardous and expensive production process currently in place industrially for these materials involves the interfacial polycondensation of phosgene and diols, accentuates the need for these studies. Although we and others have made significant advances in the synthesis of these useful thermoplastics from carbon dioxide and epoxides much of the fundamental knowledge concerning the reaction kinetics of these processes is lacking, due in part to the practical challenges associated with sampling and analyzing systems at elevated temperatures and pressures. This information is needed for making this process applicable to the synthesis of a variety of copolymers possessing a range of properties and uses. Our studies are examining in detail the mechanistic aspects of metal catalyzed carbon dioxide/epoxide coupling reactions employing in situ spectroscopy methods. For this purpose Fourier-transform infrared attenuated total refluctance (FTIR/ATR) spectroscopy is being utilized. Other related investigations involve the development of structural and reactivity models for the industrially prevalent double metal cyanide catalysts(DMC) used in polyethers and polycarbonate synthesis from epoxides or CO2/epoxides, respectively.",Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n06bf3bf8
Peter,Rentzepis,Professor,My research interest include lasers and their application to science and technology.,Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Electrical and Computer Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n08418952
Francois,Gabbai,Professor,"Our research is concerned with the chemistry of both organic and organometallic polyfunctional Lewis acids. While an important component of our work deals with the synthesis of new examples of such polyfunctional Lewis acids, it is our ultimate intent to harness and utilize the cooperative effects occurring in such systems for the discovery of unusual structures, bonding modes, supramolecules and reactivities. Our research efforts present important ramifications in the domain of molecular recognition, supramolecular materials and catalysis.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0d5d68bb
Karl,Hartwig,Professor,"My research focuses on: (a) Development of improved materials for various applications: electrical conductors including superconductors, light weight structures, high density structures, and human implants (Mg and Ti); (b) Understanding structure-property-processing relationships in metal alloys; (c) Severe plastic deformation processing of solid and particulate materials via equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE); (d) Applied superconductivity - superconductor stabilizer materials and conductor design; and (e) Material failure analysis.",Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n163f68fe
Stratos,Pistikopoulos,Professor,"The objective of my research programme is to develop fundamental theory and optimization based methodologies and computational tools that enable process engineers to analyze, design and evaluate process manufacturing systems which are economically attractive, energy efficient and environmentally benign, while at the same time exhibit good performance characteristics like flexibility, controllability, robustness, reliability and safety.",Director||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1aaac28f
Sandun,Fernando,Professor,"Progression of chemical reactions often requires the presence of a substance called a catalyst that selectively accelerates the desired reaction(s) without itself being consumed. In this regard, enzyme catalysts are very selective towards specific reactions. However, their ability to tolerate a wide range of reaction conditions is poor. On the other hand, non-enzymatic catalysts (inorganic and organic) are robust and tolerant to a wide range of conditions, but they are not very selective. The long-term goal of my research program is to integrate (marry) desirable traits of both these catalysis systems in order to develop catalytic systems with novel functionalities.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Biological and Agricultural Engineering||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1b70c743
Satish,Bukkapatnam,Professor,"Dr. Bukkapatnam's research addresses the harnessing of high-resolution nonlinear dynamic information, particularly from wireless MEMS sensors, to improve the monitoring and prognostics of real-world systems, including ultraprecision and nanomanufacturing processes and machines, and cardiorespiratory processes. His research has led to 185 peer-reviewed publications (115 published/ accepted in journals and 70 in conference proceedings), 1 granted and five pending patents, and has been the basis for 17 Ph.D. dissertations. His research has received support from federal agencies including National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense, and the private sector including General Motors, Ford, National Instruments, and the Central Rural Electric Cooperative.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Industrial and Systems Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n277d780c
Virender,Sharma,Professor,"My research focuses on (1) chemistry and application of ferrates, (2) formation, fate, and toxicity of silver and gold engineered and natural nanoparticles in aquatic environment, (3) applications of ferrites to destroy toxins and pollutants under solar light, and apply carbon-based materials to remediate contaminated water",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Environmental and Occupational Health,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n28508dfb
Tahir,Cagin,Professor,"My research interests include: computational materials science and nanotechnology with emphasis on design; characterization and development of multifunctional nano-structured materials for device and sensor applications; fundamental studies on transport phenomena (heat, mass and momentum) at nanoscale and in confined media; thermal, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties and phase behavior of materials; materials for thermal management, power generation and energy harvesting; and development and application of multiscale simulation methods.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n299235a8
Ying,Li,Professor,"The research in our laboratory focuses on advanced materials and processes for sustainable energy and clean environment. Our group is specialized in synthesis of nanomaterials and multifunctional materials, catalysis and photocatalysis, carbon capture and conversion, natural gas utilization, solar photochemical and thermochemical processes, rechargeable batteries, membrane technology (wastewater treatment, desalination, drinking water purification), and aerosol engineering. For example, we have designed multifunctional nanomaterials to catalytically convert CO2 and water to syngas under solar irradiation, which can be further processed to produce liquid fuels. We also perform advanced microscopic and spectroscopic studies to understand materials properties, interfaces and surface chemistry.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Mechanical Engineering||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2b854905
Hongbin,Zhan,Holder of Endowed Dudley J. Hughes '51 Chair in Geology and Geophysics,"My teaching and research interests are primarily in fundamental processes of groundwater hydrology, flow and transport in geological formations, and their applications in water resources management and geological, environmental, and petroleum engineering. I am recently interested in unconventional subsurface flow and transport processes, with the studied media changing from permeable porous and fractured ones to much less permeable ones such as clay and shale, and the studied pore sizes also changing from millimeters to micro-meters or even nano-meters. I am interested in the following research:
1. Flow and solute transport in highly deformable low-permeability porous media
2. Interaction of aquifer with connected and disconnected rivers
3. Vapor flow and transport in the subsurface
4. Non-Darcian flow and its impact on anomalous transport
5. Coupled unsaturated-saturated flow and transport problems
6. Radial dispersion and push-and-pull tests
7. Flow and transport in sloping aquifers
8. Coupled aquifer-conduit-fracture flow and transport
9. Flow and transport in fracture-matrix systems
10. Vadose zone infiltration well",Faculty Affiliate||Endowed Ray C. Fish Professor||Holder of Endowed Dudley J. Hughes Chair in Geology and Geophysics,Geology and Geophysics||Energy Institute||College of Geosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n31c29796
James,Batteas,Professor,"The research in our group is organized around three main projects: nanoscale materials and devices, biological surfaces and interfaces and nanotribology,
with the overarching goal of developing custom engineered surfaces and interfaces. This requires obtaining a fundamental (molecular level) understanding of the underlying chemistry and physics of the systems in question to afford rational approaches to test and develop new technologies. In much of our research we employ a range of scanned probe microscopies such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe structure and to manipulate materials at the nanoscale.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor||Faculty Fellow||D. Wayne Goodman Professor of Chemistry,Center for Health Systems and Design||Energy Institute||Chemistry||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n413d1dff
Lin,Shao,Professor,,Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Nuclear Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n43fcfb68
Jorge,Seminario,Professor,"Dr. Seminario's research covers several aspects of nanotechnology such as the analysis, design, and simulation of systems and materials of nanometer dimensions--especially those needed for development and systems for energy, nanosensors and nanoelectronics. Among his recent goals is the design of smaller, cleaner, more efficient and faster devices for energy production and storage as well as for detection of chemical, biological and nuclear agents. He has developed new scenarios for nanodevice architectures using a multiscale and multidisciplinary approach that progresses from the atomistic level to the final product, guided by first principles calculations.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n563c3880
Marcetta,Darensbourg,Distinguished Professor,"Bio-inspired Catalysts for Hydrogen Production: The ultimate, home-run, goal of our work is to synthesize and develop a robust, highly active hydrogen-producing catalyst comprised of earth-abundant transition metals within a ligand environment that is inspired by the biological Figure 3hydrogenase (H2ase) enzyme active sites. Progress in precise structural modeling of the illusive ""rotated"" structure displayed in the as-isolated, mixed-valent FeIIFe state in the past decade has permitted in depth analysis of electronic structure by Mo ssbauer, EPR (ENDOR), and computational chemistry. New electrocatalysts for hydrogen production: The connection between the Fe(NO)2 unit and the Fe(CX)3 (X = O or N) unit found in hydrogenase enzyme active sites offers opportunity for design of new catalysts, one of which is shown. In this regard we explore the ability of N2S2 metal complexes to bind as metallodithiolate ligands to various metal acceptors. The properties of such complexes vary The connection of these to light harvesting molecules for dye sensitized, sacrificial electron donor, hydrogen production is also of interest. When Iron Meets Nitric Oxide: Good Chemistry, Intriguing Biology. The affinity of iron for diatomic molecules, O2, CO, N2, and NO, is central to the most important of life processes, including those of human physiology. Figure 6In this research area we target synthetic chemistry involving dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) that serve as biomimetics of products of FeS cluster degradation by excesses of NO, or as derived from the chelatable iron pool (CIP) in cells. The electronic ambivalence of the DNIC unit is expressed in the ease with which it interconverts between oxidized and reduced forms, {Fe(NO)2}9 and {Fe(NO)2}10, respectively (Enemark/Feltham notation), and serves as impetus to explore analogous reactions known to involve the CuII/CuI redox couple. The accessory ligands which stabilize one redox level over the other, including N-heterocyclic carb",Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6f445741
Janie McClurkin,Moore,Assistant Professor,"I manage the Post-Harvest Engineering and Education research lab, focusing on post-harvest treatment technologies and engineering eduction. My research mission is to identify post-harvest treatment technologies capable of transforming lignin into value added chemicals. This research also provides new knowledge on the role of ozone and atmospheric cold plasma treatments for the reduction of spoilage organisms during post-harvest processing and storage. Research is currently being conducted with a variety of commodities including, stored grains (i.e., corn, rice), oil seeds and byproducts (i.e., cottonseed, cottonseed meal), and packaged produce (i.e., tomatoes and romaine lettuce).
I also work to develop teaching materials for those who utilize new treatment and storage technologies, so they feel more connected with the technologies thereby increasing the instances of utilization.",Member||Faculty Affiliate||Faculty Affiliate||Assistant Professor,Biological and Agricultural Engineering||Engineering Education Research Taskforce||Energy Institute||Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n717a88ea
Kung-Hui (Bella),Chu,Professor,"Our research interests are in enhancing our understanding of microbial-mediated processes in natural and engineered systems, and in application and development of biotechnology to address various environmental challenges in water, soils, and energy. The Chu lab applies molecular biology, isotopic techniques, chemical analysis, and phage biology to study environmental and biological systems, with focuses on (i) microbial ecology, fate and transport, biodegradation of environmental pollutants such as emerging contaminants and persistent organic pollutants, (ii) production of biofuels and bioproducts from renewable resources, and (iii) detection, tracking, and quantification of microorganisms that play roles in water quality, bioremediation, carbon sequestration and nitrogen cycle in the environment. Other research areas include development and application of novel sorbents and catalysts (bio and non-bio) for removing and/or monitoring emerging environmental pollutants.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Civil Engineering||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7a373eec
Hongcai,Zhou,Professor,"Research topics: Energy Storage for Transportation, Supramolecular Chemistry, Hydrogen and Methane Storage, Carbon Dioxide Capture, Clean-Energy-Related Separation, Metal-Organic Frameworks, Mesh-Adjustable Molecular Sieves, Mesoporous Materials, Biomimetic Synthesis.","Professor, Affiliated Faculty||Faculty Affiliate",Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8c5a2ac9
Ahmed,Abdel-Wahab,Professor,"Dr. Abdel-Wahab's primary focus is on chemical, electrochemical, and physical processes associated with treatment of water and wastewater, carbon dioxide conversion, and green hydrogen production from water splitting. This research has attracted significant external funding totaling more than $12M as the lead principal investigator and more than $6M as co-investigator. Abdel-Wahab's research has led to publication of more than 130 peer-reviewed articles in leading research journals, 9 book chapters, and more than 80 refereed conference publications/presentations. He is an editorial board member of the Journal of Water Process Engineering (Elsevier) and an associate editor of Emergent Materials Journal (Springer).","Technical Director, QWE||Faculty Affiliate||Professor||Professor",Civil Engineering||Texas A&M University at Qatar||Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n96a2a261
Mohamed,Nounou,Professor,"Dr. Nounou's research interests are in the area of process systems engineering with a particular emphasis on process modeling, estimation, fault detection, and control. The algorithms and tools developed in Dr. Nounou's research are utilized in many applications to improve the operation of various chemical, environmental, biological, and electrical systems.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9ad23af0
Marlan,Scully,Distinguished Professor,,Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Physics and Astronomy||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na2a37577
Perla,Balbuena,Professor,,University Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb82a0bc7
Michael,Nippe,Associate Professor,"Our research focuses on inorganic molecular approaches to contribute to the development of novel systems for solar to energy conversion, small molecule activation, and molecules for information storage. Synthetic methods build the foundation of the group and are complimented by a broad array of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques.
We are seeking students who are interested in creative inorganic synthesis, structure-function relationships in catalysis, electronic structure of heterometallic d-block/f-block complexes, and molecular species with unusual charges.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nbcad74f5
Ibrahim,Karaman,Professor and Head,,Faculty Affiliate||Professor and Head,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc3b0b0fe
Xiaofeng,Qian,Associate Professor,"My research focuses on: Materials Theory, Discovery, and Design for Energy Applications and Device Design Aided by HighThroughput Computing; Two-Dimensional Materials and Their Coupled Multi-Physical Properties and Novel Device Concepts; Electronic, Thermal, Ionic, and Excitonic Transport in Nanostructured Materials; First-Principles Methodology Development towards Efficient and Accurate Prediction of Ground-state and Excited-state Properties of Materials; and Multiscale Materials Modeling of Complex Physical and Chemical Processes.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor||Assistant Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd67bf9a1
Konstantinos,Kakosimos,Associate Professor,"Dr. Konstantinos E. Kakosimos is an associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar. He received his Chemical Engineering Diploma in 2002 and his Ph.D. in 2009 both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He has more than 55 peer-reviewed publications and four books/chapters in English and Greek languages. His main research activities are focused on the development and application of the tools needed to improve and sustain the quality of the environment. In 2014, he established the Sustainable Energy and Clean Air Research lab (SECAReLab) with unique facilities for the development and testing of solar-driven chemical processes and the associated equipment and materials. In brief, he conducts research on the experimental and numerical modeling of transport and reacting phenomena with applications in Environmental fluid mechanics and monitoring for air quality, Risk analysis and effects estimation of fires, explosions, and toxic gases dispersion, and Solar photo- and thermochemical processes, reactors, and materials. So far, he has received more than $5.5M of cumulative awards from external and internal sources.
Moreover, he researches new educational methods and techniques, for which he received the 2015 IChemE Hutchison medal. He is also the recipient of the 2016 Research Laboratory Safety, 2017 Research Excellence for Early Carrier Faculty, and 2019 Faculty Excellence Awards at Texas A&M. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Kakosimos serves the local and international community variously, such as secretary of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - Arabian Gulf Branch (2014-15), Chair of the Principle Investigators Council at Texas A&M Qatar (2017-2018), Chair of the Qatar National Air Quality Standards subcommittee of the Ministry of Municipalities and Environment (2018), and task force member at the Ministry of Public Health (2018-today).",Associate Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndbab886c
David,Bergbreiter,Professor,"Our group explores new chemistry related to catalysis and polymer functionalization using the tools and precepts of synthetic organic chemistry to prepare functional oligomers or polymers that in turn are used to either effect catalysis in a greener, more environmentally benign way or to more efficiently functionalize polymers. Often this involves creatively combining the physiochemical properties of a polymer with the reactivity of a low molecular weight compound to form new materials with new functions. These green chemistry projects involve undamental research both in synthesis and catalysis but has practical aspects because of its relevance to practical problems.
A common theme in our catalysis studies is exploring how soluble polymers can facilitate homogeneous catalysis. Homogeneous catalysts are ubiquitously used to prepare polymers, chemical intermediates, basic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Such catalysts often use expensive or precious metals or expensive ligands or are used at relatively high catalyst loadings. The products often contain traces of these catalysts or ligands - traces that are undesirable for esthetic reasons or because of the potential toxicity of these impurities. Both the cost of these catalysts of these issues require catalyst/product separation - separations that often are inefficient and lead to chemical waste. These processes also use volatile organic solvents - solvents that have to be recovered and separated. Projects underway in our lab explore how soluble polymers can address each of these problems. Examples of past schemes that achieve this goal in a general way as highlighted in the Figure below.
We also use functional polymers to modify existing polymers. Ongoing projects involve molecular design of additives that can more efficiently modify polymers' physical properties. We also use functional polymers in covalent layer-by-layer assembly to surface polymers' surface chemistry.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nf01e95dd