A key component of a JMU undergraduate degree in science, technology or engineering is the experience of participating in a research project with a faculty member and team of other students. Projects are cutting edge, interdisciplinary and often result in student authorship in professional journals and presentations at national meetings. Examples of the current research interests of our faculty are listed below.

Microfabrication

• Microfabrication of polymer microfluidics
• Rapid prototyping and rapid tooling/manufacturing technologies
• Effects of geometry and surface curvature on physical phenomena

Modeling

• Computational Fluid Dynamics and Numerical Heat Transfer
• CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) Replacements and Carbon Dioxide Refrigerator/Freezer Modeling
• Heating Ventilation Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration System Design
• Alternative Energy Resources and Energy Security
• Polymeric materials mechanical and thermal characterization
• Mineral chemistry and mineral assemblages with interest in paragenetic crystallization sequences. Especially in pegmatites and Virginia Mineral localities
• Granular materials
• Multiphase flows
• Complex systems
• Infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hydrous species in minerals and anisotropic solids
• Diffusion behavior of hydrous species in minerals
• Thermally-induced structural changes in synthetic cation-exchanged birnessite
• The role of magmatic water in volcanic eruptions
• Polymeric materials mechanical and thermal characterization

Nanoscience

• Real-time, in-situ atomic force microscopy of biodegradable polymers
• Surface modification and characterization of polymer nanocomposites for microfluidics
• Nanoscience Education. Development of laboratory and lecture modules to introduce undergraduate students to nanoscience.
• Footprinting approaches to chromatin structure
• Electrical and mechanical properties of nanoscale systems
• Tuning optical properties of hybrid materials
• Morphology and phase separation of polymeric materials
• Biomineralization templated by chiral molecules
• Cell adhesion to chiral surfaces
• Investigation of novel properties relevant to size and shape
• Atomic layer deposition on proteins for imaging and engineering of surfaces

Synthesis

• Colloidal and supramolecular organic systems. Synthesis of rationally designed compounds and study of their self-assembly and aggregation using a wide variety of physical organic and spectroscopic methods.
• Molecular Recognition. Engineering of molecules to recognize molecules with complementary functionalities.
• Catalysis
• CVD Precursors to Oxide Materials
• High Temperature Superconductors
• Polymer processing & manufacturability
• The synthesis of photoactive metal complexes for interfacial electron transfer to nanoparticles
• Synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials
• Synthesis of nanocrystals with size and shape control
• Heterogeneous catalysis