Research

Mineral (meta)stability control

Minerals often form at different pressure, temperature, and chemical potential conditions from those at which they are found and processed. 

We explore two major themes

Active separation of critical elements

Organisms utilize minerals as nutrients to fabricate bones, teeth, shells, sensors, and storage capsules. They use active transport, spending energy to separate valuable elements from waste. We emulate this natural strategy to actively separate critical elements using three distinct approaches

Phase transition morphogenesis

One defining characteristic of life is the control over shape evolution, such as the growth of an embryo. Morphogenesis during the transformation of minerals can also be controlled to produce functional materials with properties that far exceed otherwise similar materials that aren't intelligently guided. We explore the dynamics of structure during transformations

Empirical quantum interatomic potentials

Complex matter cannot be described exactly by quantum theory because the relevant length and time scales are too large for the limited energy available to modern computers. An empirical approach, that nonetheless relies on the quantum interaction between electrons that gives rise to chemistry, may address the need for fast, complex chemical computation