Lab Members
BU undergraduate students: If you are interested in research during the summer or longer term research over the course of a few semesters, email Prof. Werner with a summary of your interests and availability.
Current BU graduate students (PhD and MS students): Email Prof. Werner with a summary of your research interests, experience, and CV.
Prospective PhD students: Apply to the Mechanical Engineering PhD program or the Materials Science and Engineering PhD program and email Prof. Werner with a brief statement on why you are interested in the lab and your academic and research background. Indicate in your PhD application your interest in the lab of Prof. Werner.
Group Kayaking Fall 2021
Jörg G. Werner, PhD (jgwerner [at] bu (dot) edu)
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Materials Science and Engineering
Boston University
Jörg (Joerg) Werner received his Diplom in Chemistry (“MS equivalent”) in 2011 from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, and his PhD in 2015 from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University. At Cornell, he worked under the guidance of Prof. Uli Wiesner from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and employed block copolymer self-assembly for the fabrication of 3-D ordered functional architectures for next-generation energy storage applications. Subsequently, Dr. Werner was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Experimental Soft Condensed Matter group of Prof. David Weitz at Harvard University from 2016 to 2019, where he developed reversibly stimuli-responsive microcapsules from complex emulsion templating in microfluidics. In January of 2020, Prof. Werner started his research group at Boston University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Materials Science and Engineering. (CV)
Graduate Students
Wenlu Wang (wwang623 [at] bu (dot) edu)
Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering
Academic Background:
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, 2017, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
M.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 2019, Johns Hopkins University, MD
Research Background:
Hydrogel fabrication with visible light photoinitiators; diffusion-reaction and photo-uncaging reaction in photolithography patterned hydrogel; hydrogel modification for cell culture; growth factor inhibition in bovine cartilage.
Research Interests:
Stimuli-responsive polymeric materials and their potential applications; microfluidic device design and fabrication.
Anton Resing (aresing [at] bu (dot) edu)
Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering
Academic Background:
B.S. in Materials Science, 2019, University of Washington, WA
Research Background:
Anton has previously studied crystallization and morphology resulting from varied processing techniques and polymer characteristics to elucidate structure-property relationships in nanowires and organic photovoltaics. Additionally, he has experience studying lignin absorption in highly engineered carbon black to direct further battery optimization.
Research Interests:
Anton is eager to combine his experience with polymers, energy storage and nanoscale morphologies to investigate mesostructured solid-state batteries. He is excited to be working on the edge of applied and fundamental science to drive novel advances in energy storage, a key attribute in the transition to a fully renewable power grid.
Yuanzhi Li (tigerlee [at] bu (dot) edu)
Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering
Academic Background:
B.S. in Energy & Power Engineering, 2020, NCEPU, Beijing, China
Research Background:
Yuanzhi has previously done soft matter research with double & triple emulsion drops via droplet microfluidics to make asymmetric vesicles to mimic cell membranes. In addition, Yuanzhi has experience in energy conversion research on methanol steam reforming.
Research Interests:
Yuanzhi is interested in soft materials synthesis and self-assembly including block copolymers, their characteristics and applications in soft templating & energy storage. He is also interested in bio-related interdisciplinary research such as drug delivery and protein separation. Yuanzhi is eager to be an engineer as well as a chemist.
Zhaoyi Zheng (zhaoyiz [at] bu (dot) edu)
Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering
Academic Background:
B.S. in Applied Chemistry, 2018, Kunming University of Science and Technology
M.S. in Applied Chemistry and Physics, 2021, Kunming University of Science and Technology
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, 2023, Boston University
Research Background:
Zhaoyi has research experience in organic synthesis and electrochemical analysis: 1) the decarboxylation coupling reaction of 1-p-phenylmethyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid and 2) investigation the localized electrochemical reactivity on PbO2 electrode using SECM.
Research Interests:
Zhaoyi has a passion for the synthesis and fabrication of materials for energy and sustainability technologies. He believes the advancement of novel functional materials can address the energy and environmental challenges our society faces.
Mariam Dobosz (mdobosz [at] bu (dot) edu)
Master’s Student in Material Science and Engineering
Academic Background:
B.S in Mechanical Engineering, 2022, Union College, NY
Research Background:
Analytical and experimental models for improving renewable energy technologies. Solar thermal systems enhanced with phase change materials (PCMs) for improved thermal conduction and recovery. Electrode fabrication and prototyping for electrodialysis to extract lithium from brine.
Research Interests:
Phase inversion processing to produce porous architectures for lithium based electrodes.
Ruiyang Chen (simoncry [at] bu (dot) edu)
Master’s student in Material Science and Engineering
Academic background:
B.S. in Applied Physics, 2022, Wuhan University of Technology, Hubei, China
Research Background:
Nano wearable flexible electronic materials and devices; Energy recycling system by using piezoelectric materials; Graphene based SERS application.
Research Interests:
Ruiyang is focusing on the tunable electrodeposition of polymer thin films.
Undergraduate Students
Amira Oladokun (CHEM ’25)
Research Interests: The synthesis and application of materials to allow for improved and cost-effective consumer products. Emphasizing environmentally friendly and novel approaches and methods.
Visitors:
Zhang Wu
Ph.D. student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University
Academic Background:
B.Eng. In Materials Science , 2018, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Research Background:
Phase Inversion Membrane Formation within Complex Emulsion Drops; Dynamic, Reversibly pH- and Light-Responsive Microcapsules
Alumni:
Harrison Peairs (BME ’24)
Project (2023): Swelling of self-assembled and crosslinked nanostructured block copolymers.
Nashr El Auliya (ME ’24)
Project (2022): Swelling of self-assembled and crosslinked block copolymer nanostructured materials.
Chase Fukuda (ME ’24)
Project (2021-2022): Hybrid inorganic phase inversion for bottom-up architected battery electrodes.