Cross-Cutting Research

Our faculty's cross-cutting research addresses key and emerging areas in society, such as energy, environment, and health.

  • Biomathematics & Biophysics

    Qiang Du, Applied Mathematics
    Numerical analysis, mathematical modeling and scientific computation with selected applications in physical, biological, materials, data and information sciences

    Oleg Gang, Applied Physics
    Soft matter physics; programmable self-assembly of nanoscale systems; soft and biomaterials with tailored functions

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Latha Venkataraman, Applied Physics
    Single-molecule transport and mechanics, electron transport at the nano-scale, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy

    Chris H. Wiggins, Applied Mathematics
    Applied mathematics, mathematical biology, biopolymer dynamics, soft condensed matter, genetic networks and network inference, machine learning

    Nanfang Yu, Applied Physics
    Nanophotonics, mid-infrared and far-infrared optics and optoelectronic devices, 2D and 1D designer optical structures, active plasmonics and meta-surfaces integrating gain and nonlinear media, quantum cascade lasers, infrared imaging and spectroscopy, biophysics: perception and control of infrared radiation by insects

  • Computational Science

    Daniel Bienstock, Applied Mathematics
    Applied mathematics, methodology and high-performance implementation of optimization algorithms, applications of optimization: preventing national-scale blackouts, emergency management, approximate solution of massively large optimization problems, higher-dimensional reformulation techniques for integer programming, robust optimization

    Liliana BorceaApplied Mathematics
    Wave propagation in random media with applications to wave based imaging and free space optical communications; Inverse problems for hyperbolic, elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations; Data driven reduced order modeling and applications to inverse problems; Scientific computing

    Qiang Du, Applied Mathematics
    Numerical analysis, mathematical modeling and scientific computation with selected applications in physical, biological, materials, data and information sciences

    Chris Marianetti, Materials Science and Engineering
    Predicting materials properties from first-principles computations; materials with energy related applications; density-functional theory; dynamical mean-field theory; transition-metal oxides; actinides, energy storage and conversion materials

    Lorenzo M. Polvani, Applied Mathematics
    Atmospheric and climate dynamics, geophysical fluid dynamics, numerical methods for weather and climate modeling, planetary atmospheres

    Kui Ren, Applied Mathematics
    Uncertainty quantification (UQ), reduced order models (ROMs), hyperbolic partial differential equations

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Adam H. Sobel , Applied Mathematics
    Atmospheric and climate dynamics, tropical meteorology, extreme weather

    Marc W. Spiegelman, Applied Mathematics
    Advanced computation for multi-physics problems with applications to coupled fluid-solid mechanics in Earth Sciences (e.g. magma dynamics, carbon sequestration)

    Chris H. Wiggins, Applied Mathematics
    Applied mathematics, mathematical biology, biopolymer dynamics, soft condensed matter, genetic networks and network inference, machine learning

    Renata Wentzcovitch, Materials Science/Applied Physics
    Computational materials physics, simulation of matter at extreme conditions, mineral physics

  • Earth & Climate

    Liliana BorceaApplied Mathematics
    Wave propagation in random media with applications to wave based imaging and free space optical communications; Inverse problems for hyperbolic, elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations; Data driven reduced order modeling and applications to inverse problems; Scientific computing

    Lorenzo M. Polvani, Applied Mathematics
    Atmospheric and climate dynamics, geophysical fluid dynamics, numerical methods for weather and climate modeling, planetary atmospheres

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Adam H. Sobel, Applied Mathematics
    Atmospheric and climate dynamics, tropical meteorology, extreme weather

    Marc W. Spiegelman, Applied Mathematics
    Advanced computation for multi-physics problems with applications to coupled fluid-solid mechanics in Earth Sciences (e.g. magma dynamics, carbon sequestration)

    Michael Tippett, Applied Mathematics
    Predictability and variability of the climate system, with emphasis on the application of statistical methods to data from observations and numerical models

    Renata Wentzcovitch, Materials Science/Applied Physics
    Computational materials physics, simulation of matter at extreme conditions, mineral physics

  • Electron Conduction on the Nanoscale

    William Bailey, Materials Science and Engineering
    Nanoscale magnetic films and heterostructures, materials issues in spin-polarized transport, materials engineering of magnetic dynamics

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Latha Venkataraman, Applied Physics
    Single-molecule transport and mechanics, electron transport at the nano-scale, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy

    Nanfang Yu, Applied Physics
    Nanophotonics, mid-infrared and far-infrared optics and optoelectronic devices, 2D and 1D designer optical structures, active plasmonics and meta-surfaces integrating gain and nonlinear media, quantum cascade lasers, infrared imaging and spectroscopy, biophysics: perception and control of infrared radiation by insects

  • Grain Structures in Films

    William Bailey, Materials Science and Engineering
    Nanoscale magnetic films and heterostructures, materials issues in spin-polarized transport, materials engineering of magnetic dynamics

    Siu-Wai Chan, Materials Science and Engineering
    Metal oxides, crystal-size-related structural changes and properties in nanoparticles, thin films, grain boundaries and interfaces as well as their corresponding electrical properties

    James Im, Materials Science and Engineering
    Laser-induced crystallization of thin films, phase transformations & nucleation in condensed systems

    I. Cevdet Noyan, Materials Science and Engineering
    Characterization and modeling of mechanical and micromechanical deformation; residual stress analysis and nondestructive testing; x-ray and neutron diffraction, microdiffraction analysis

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

  • Inverse Problems

    Liliana BorceaApplied Mathematics
    Wave propagation in random media with applications to wave based imaging and free space optical communications; Inverse problems for hyperbolic, elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations; Data driven reduced order modeling and applications to inverse problems; Scientific computing

    Oleg Gang, Applied Physics
    Soft matter physics; programmable self-assembly of nanoscale systems; soft and biomaterials with tailored functions

    Kui Ren, Applied Mathematics
    Uncertainty quantification (UQ), reduced order models (ROMs), hyperbolic partial differential equations

    I. Cevdet Noyan, Materials Science and Engineering
    Characterization and modeling of mechanical and micromechanical deformation; residual stress analysis and nondestructive testing; x-ray and neutron diffraction, microdiffraction analysis

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

  • Nanomaterials

    Siu-Wai Chan, Materials Science and Engineering
    Metal oxides, crystal-size-related structural changes and properties in nanoparticles, thin films, grain boundaries and interfaces as well as their corresponding electrical properties

    Oleg Gang, Applied Physics
    Soft matter physics; programmable self-assembly of nanoscale systems; soft and biomaterials with tailored functions

    Irving P. Herman, Applied Physics
    Nanocrystals, optical spectroscopy of nanostructured materials, laser diagnostics of thin film processing, mechanical properties of nanomaterials

    Chris A. Marianetti, Materials Science and Engineering
    Predicting materials properties from first-principles computations; materials with energy related applications; density-functional theory; dynamical mean-field theory; transition-metal oxides; actinides, energy storage and conversion materials

    Michael Weinstein, Applied Mathematics
    Partial Differential Equations, applied analysis, dynamical systems, waves and multiscale phenomena in inhomogeneous, nonlinear and random media

    Renata Wentzcovitch, Materials Science/Applied Physics
    Computational materials physics, simulation of matter at extreme conditions, mineral physics

    Yuan Yang, Materials Science and Engineering
    Developing nanostructured materials for batteries and thermal management

    Xueyue (Sherry) ZhangApplied Physics
    Quantum devices and their applications, superconducting qubits, solid state spins, quantum light-matter interaction, metamaterials, quantum many-body dynamics, topological photonics, quantum information, quantum networking

  • Optical Physics

    Liliana BorceaApplied Mathematics
    Wave propagation in random media with applications to wave based imaging and free space optical communications; Inverse problems for hyperbolic, elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations; Data driven reduced order modeling and applications to inverse problems; Scientific computing

    Alexander L. Gaeta, Applied Physics
    Ultrafast nonlinear optics, nano-photonics, nonlinear propagation in fibers & bulk media

    Irving P. Herman, Applied Physics
    Nanocrystals, optical spectroscopy of nanostructured materials, laser diagnostics of thin film processing, mechanical properties of nanomaterials

    Michal Lipson, Applied Physics
    Silicon photonics, novel micron-size photonic structures for light manipulation, light confining structures

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Michael I. Weinstein, Applied Mathematics
    Partial Differential Equations, applied analysis, dynamical systems, waves and multiscale phenomena in inhomogeneous, nonlinear and random media

    Nanfang Yu, Applied Physics
    Nanophotonics, mid-infrared and far-infrared optics and optoelectronic devices, 2D and 1D designer optical structures, active plasmonics and meta-surfaces integrating gain and nonlinear media, quantum cascade lasers, infrared imaging and spectroscopy, biophysics: perception and control of infrared radiation by insects

    Xueyue (Sherry) ZhangApplied Physics
    Quantum devices and their applications, superconducting qubits, solid state spins, quantum light-matter interaction, metamaterials, quantum many-body dynamics, topological photonics, quantum information, quantum networking

  • Plasma Physics & Fusion

    Allen H. Boozer, Applied Physics
    Plasma theory, theory of magnetic confinement for fusion energy, nonlinear dynamics

    Gerald A. Navratil, Applied Physics 
    Plasma physics, plasma diagnostics, fusion energy science

    Carlos Paz-Soldan, Applied Physics
    Plasma physics, magnetically confined plasmas, plasma stability and control, fusion energy technologies

    Elizabeth Paul, Applied Physics
    Plasma Physics, theory of the magnetic confinement of plasmas; fusion energy science; PDE-constrained optimization; shape optimization

    Ben Zhu, Applied Physics
    Plasma physics; numerical modeling of magnetized plasma; turbulence and transport processes; fusion exhaust and control strategies; ML/AI applications in fusion energy science

  • X-Ray & Neutron Scattering

    William Bailey, Materials Science and Engineering
    Nanoscale magnetic films and heterostructures, materials issues in spin-polarized transport, materials engineering of magnetic dynamics

    Oleg Gang, Applied Physics
    Soft matter physics; programmable self-assembly of nanoscale systems; soft and biomaterials with tailored functions

    I. Cevdet Noyan, Materials Science and Engineering
    Characterization and modeling of mechanical and micromechanical deformation; residual stress analysis and nondestructive testing; x-ray and neutron diffraction, microdiffraction analysis

    Michele Simoncelli, Applied Physics
    Condensed matter physics, quantum transport, computational physics, fluid dynamics, organic electronics and sustainability, supercapacitors, neuromorphic computing

    Yuan Yang, Materials Science and Engineering
    Characterizing energy materials by Synchrotron-based techniques