UB CMI funds eight faculty-industry manufacturing R&D projects

UB’s Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics (CMI) has awarded eight manufacturing projects a total of $400,000 to support development of new materials technologies during the 2023-24 fiscal year.

CMI is one of 14 Centers of Excellence statewide funded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The centers foster collaboration between the academic research community and industry to develop and commercialize new products and technologies, and enhance workforce training.

CMI annually supports Faculty-Industry Applied Research (FIAR) projects that provide opportunities to foster applied research efforts that drive economic growth and impact with commercial value to manufacturing businesses in New York State. Through CMI FIAR projects, UB faculty collaborate with manufacturing and materials companies to gain access to funds for research and development projects in areas such as semiconductors, clean energy, environment, sensors and wireless technology.

This year’s projects include efforts to create low-cost, low-temperature, ammonia cracking catalysts for green hydrogen production, advance anti-ice coatings for wind turbines and develop infectious bio-film resistant orthopaedic implants, among other technologies.

“The Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics is a critical resource in keeping academic-industry collaborations thriving,” says Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development. “CMI’s FIAR program is key in enabling UB experts to partner with advanced manufacturing and materials companies to help bring new discoveries and products to market that can have major societal impacts.”

The faculty members awarded CMI FIAR support for the 2023-24 fiscal year include:

Gang Wu, professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a core faculty member of the UB RENEW Institute.

Project: “Low Cost Green Hydrogen Production from Carbon-free Resources.”

Industry partner: Bettergy, an energy materials and nanotechnology company developing innovative energy and environmental technologies.

Jun Liu, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Project: “Understanding electrical charges to impact next-generation functional glass.”

Industry partner: Corning, a leading innovator in materials science, applying its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives.

Mark Ehrensberger, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

Project: “Making Orthopaedic Implants Risk-Free from Biofilm Infections.”

Industry partner: Garwood Medical Devices, a medical device company developing technologies that provide effective, efficient and measurable electrical stimulation treatments for periprosthetic biofilm infections.

James Berry, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences.

Tim Thomay, assistant professor in the Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences.

Project: “Pathway to commercialize Algal-based products for manufacturing in NYS through photosynthetic improvements via optical Quantum-Profiles.”

Industry partner: Helios-NRG, a technology development and consulting group creating practical solutions in algae biotechnology, carbon capture and clean energy, membrane, and industrial gas separations.

Chong Cheng, professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Project: “Developing anti-ice accretion coatings to improve wind turbine energy production.”

Industry partner: Integument Technologies, a manufacturer developing surface protection, fluoropolymer films and coatings in a tape-like form that are effective in the most challenging conditions.

Praveen Arany, associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine.

Martin Trebbin, Empire Innovation Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, and a core faculty member of the UB RENEW Institute.

Project: “Optimize microsphere production using Spray Drying for a broad range of clinical applications.”

Industry partner: Optimed Technologies, a UB spinoff biotechnology company focusing on biomaterial and biotechnology innovations for dental and medical applications.

John Atkinson, Scott and Coleen Stevens Chair in Engineering Sustainability and associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Project: “Developing a life cycle assessment framework to quantify impact of Viridi Battery Storage Products.”

Industry partner: Viridi, a manufacturing company producing fail-safe lithium-ion battery systems for commercial and industrial applications. 

Timothy Cook, professor in the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences.

David Watson, professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Peihong Zheng, professor in the Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences.

Project: “Developing nanostructured photocatalysts to impact artificial photosynthesis.”

Industry partner: Faculty and student teams are working to advance photocatalytic materials to a technology readiness level that will enable them to market the technology to companies focused on carbon capture technologies.

CMI FIAR is accepting proposals until Feb. 26 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Check CMI’s partnerships webpage for more information on CMI and details on the current FIAR application cycle.