Faculty

One area I focus on is building and validating models of chemical processes. Modern commercial software has made many parts of this task much easier, but proper use of commercial tools requires judgment about the inputs and the level of modeling detail, process-specific knowledge, and validation against real-world performance data.

Bates research group synthesizes catalysts with well-defined structures and use quantitative kinetic measurements and characterizations of their active centers to elucidate structure–reactivity relationships.

The Berger lab uses biotechnology to solve important biomedical, environmental and industrial challenges, and seeks opportunities to translate these technologies to market. 

In the Bilodeau group, we explore the intersection between molecular simulations, statistical physics, and artificial intelligence to develop tools to discover and design new molecules, surfaces, and proteins with optimized properties. Our core expertise lies in molecular dynamics simulations of soft matter systems and artificial intelligence for m

My lab’s research lies at the interface of soft (bio)materials and biology. We seek to understand and control the interactions between soft (bio)materials and living systems to solve challenges in sustainability and health. We do this using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches.

The Caliari Lab designs, synthesizes, and characterizes new biomaterials to explore the dynamic interplay between cells and their microenvironment, applying these platforms to address fundamental human health challenges in understanding disease and engineering tissues.

Giorgio Carta has served an Editor of Biotechnology Journal from its founding and as a member of the Editorial Board of Separation Science & Technology. He has been a consultant for a number of chemical and pharmaceutical companies. He has published extensively in the area of adsorption and ion exchange with emphasis on protein chromatography.

Davis joined the faculty in Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia in 1990 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1996, and full professor in 2002.

Bill received his PhD from the University of Florida in 1997 and his BS from Virginia Tech in 1992, both in Chemical Engineering.

Professor Erik Fernandez received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 1989.

Roseanne M. Ford is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Delaware and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in chemical engineering.

Geoffrey M. Geise is an associate professor at the University of Virginia with appointments in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering (by courtesy). At UVA, his research focuses on studying the fundamentals of chemically- and electrochemically-driven small molecule transport in polymeric membranes for clean water and energy.

Our group focuses on the synthesis of well-defined nanoparticles, their dispersion into polymer solutions and melts, and their suspension rheology. With our fundamental studies, we seek to optimize processing to achieve a desirable microstructure in industrial suspensions, and to set a foundation for developing constitutive rheological models.

Donald Griffin improves clinical translation of acellular and cellular therapies through enhanced hydrogel-tissue integration, specifically focusing on the development of passive and active instructional microenvironments using microscale building blocks.

Christopher Highley develops materials and fabrication technologies to enable the design and construction of complex cellular and material systems, with the goal of addressing fundamental and translational problems in biomedicine. 

Ayman Karim is a professor and the chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering as of August 2025. Karim’s research focuses on designing heterogeneous catalysts for energy and environmental applications using controlled synthesis, detailed kinetics, and advanced in-situ and in-operando characterization techniques.

We are interested in the tailored synthesis of new materials at multiple length scales. At the molecular scale, the physical properties of materials are largely dependent on the stoichiometry and stable structures that can be formed. 

Kyle Lampe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, and by courtesy, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience.

Work in the Lazzara Lab employs a combination of experimental and computational methods to study problems in cell signaling, the complex biochemical process cells use to make decisions.

For the past 35+ years, Blair has been a pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality, and development executive where he has had the opportunity to work globally and drive twelve new chemical/biological and biosimilar products through development and into sustained commercial production. 

Chris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.  He completed his B.S. and Ph.D in Chemical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Lakeshia Taite designs biomaterials to create cell-instructive microenvironments that encourage tissue growth or regeneration.