Reis: Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Health Risks
Research Focus Climate change is an escalating crisis that disproportionately affects marginalized communities, exacerbating social inequities. In the United States, federally subsidized affordable housing—which has been shaped by historical segregation and discriminatory policies—is often situated in low-resource areas that are increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts. This leads to significant health challenges for residents, including […]
Bose: Evaluating Bioplastic Production
Research Focus Part of our mission is to address the environmental challenges associated with petroleum-derived plastics. In the Bose Lab, one of our primary research goals is to identify and characterize microorganisms capable of naturally producing bioplastics—promising, sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. Our work also focuses on enhancing bioplastic production through various strategies, including optimizing […]
Agarwal: Analysis and Design of a Emission Free Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft
Research Focus For emission free ‘Green’ aviation, hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) powered drive train coupled with batteries and propellors for propulsion of a short- to mid-range aircraft will be considered in this project. Several crucial processes must occur to power the hydrogen fuel cell stacks. First, the air must be captured from the atmosphere, cooled, […]
Zheng: Smart Sorbents for Water Cleanup
Research Focus Heavy metals in water harm ecosystems and public health, yet many of these metals are also valuable resources. Our lab designs porous materials that can pull metals like copper and nickel out of contaminated water, then release them for reuse. The core materials are metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which are molecular-level “crystalline sponges.” We […]
Freixas/Underhill: Climate and Health Resilience
Research Focus Recognizing the growing impact of climate change on community health and resilience, this project seeks to assess and understand the public health and environmental implications of local climate adaptation efforts. A key part of the initiative is a three-day interdisciplinary workshop that will bring together residents, community leaders, government officials, nonprofit organizations, researchers, […]