PI | Visiting Researchers | Postdoctoral Researchers | Ph.D. Students | Master’s Students | Undergraduate Students
Dr. Russell J. Composto
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Bioengineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
composto@seas.upenn.edu
LRSM 321
(215) 898-4451
Google Scholar: here
Education:
PhD Materials Science and Engineering 1987 – Cornell University
MS Materials Science 1984 – Cornell University
BA Physics 1982 – Gettysburg College
Member of:
Nano/Bio Interface Center (NBIC)
Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)
Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME)
Penn Center for Energy Innovation
Visiting Researchers
Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Project Title: Nanocarrier Drug Delivery to Improve Access and Outcomes in Lung Transplant
Collaborators: Jacob W. Myerson (PSOM), Jacob S. Brenner (PSOM), Vladimir R. Muzykantov (PSOM)
Funding Source: UPenn 2019 Formula Fund
Project Description: Current research focuses on the biological mechanism study of the complement system with nanoparticles.
Yusuke Watanabe
Visiting Scientist
yuwata99@seas.upenn.edu
watanabe.y.d8f4@m.isct.ac.jp
Education: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering in School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Project Title: Adsorption behavior for small molecules of polymers grafting from nanoplatelets
Collaborators: Daeyeon Lee (CBE)
Funding Source: Japan Science and Technology Agency
Project Description: In this work, the adsorption of small molecules such as hexane, methanol, and CO2, for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) grafting from plate-shaped nanoparticles is studied using a QCM instrument equipped with a vapor pump system.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Seongon Jang
Postdoctoral Researcher
(MSE)
seongon@seas.upenn.edu
Education: Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Project Title: Physical and Chemical Properties of Vitrimer Nanocomposites
Collaborator: Dr. Pavel Shapturenka (CBE- Osuji lab), Dr. Yejung Lee (Chemistry- Fakhraai lab)
Project Description: My research focuses on vitrimer nanocomposites for applications in solid polymer electrolytes and thin-film coatings. My current project investigates the fundamental structure–property relationships of hexagonal boron nitride flake-containing vitrimer nanocomposite electrolytes for sodium-ion battery applications. My future work will integrate AI-guided property prediction and optimization with autonomous experimentation to accelerate the design of high-performance polymer nanocomposites.
Ph.D. Students
Education: B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University
Project Title: Probing Nanoparticle Dynamics and Kinetics of Adsorption to Polyelectrolyte Brushes
Collaborators: Co-advised: Karen I. Winey (MSE & CBE); Professor Zahra Fakhraai and AFRL
Funding Sources: NSF CBET
Project Description: Currently, nanoscale separation technologies are limited in their scope of adsorption in situ and in real-time. My research focuses on the interactions of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to the weak polyelectrolyte brushes, poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), which are stimuli-responsive to pH changes. The structural changes influenced by pH are leveraged in my research to elucidate the mechanism of pH-mediated size-selective adsorption to homopolymer P2VP brushes in relation to brush molecular weight, grafting density, and grafting surface.
Justin Hughes
Ph.D. Student
(MSE)
jhughes3@seas.upenn.edu
Education: B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland College Park
Project Title: Autonomous Exploration of Process-Structure-Property Relationships in Polyelectrolyte-Based Polymer Nanocomposites
Collaborators: N/A
Funding Sources: NSF DMRand NSF NRT
Project description: My research is on the development of autonomous experimentation methods to study process-structure-property relationships in polyelectrolyte-based polymer nanocomposites (PE-PNCs). PE-PNCs have the potential to serve as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for batteries, but much less research has been done on this topic compared to the process-structure-property relations for neutral PNC materials. This research hopes to bridge that gap in literature through employing autonomous experimentation methods to more efficiently and more sustainably navigate through experimental campaigns to design favorable PE-PNC materials.
Sydni Wilson
Ph.D. Student
(MSE)
sydniw@seas.upenn.edu
Education: B.S. in Chemistry, Jackson State University
Project Title: Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery of Dental Therapeutics
Collaborators: N/A
Funding Sources: UPenn SOE and GEM
Project description: The goal of my project is to investigate the interfacial interactions of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) on mineralized surfaces and subsequently utilize the LNPs for employing therapeutics to dental materials.
David Bujdos
Ph.D. Student
(MSE)
bujdos@seas.upenn.edu
Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Saint Vincent College
Project Title: Infiltration-Based Strengthening of Polymer-Metal Nanocomposites
Collaborators: N/A
Funding Sources: Ashton Fellowship and NSF DMR
Project description: My project aims to leverage the morphology of diblock copolymer-infiltrated gold scaffolds to create mechanically reinforced nanomaterials. The wetting-driven strength contribution from polymer regions will be investigated to develop new composites in the boundary between soft and hard materials.
Sunmin Kim
Ph.D. Student
(MSE)
skim01@seas.upenn.edu
Education: B.S. in Physics and Mathematics, Emory University
Project Title: Doctoral Studies in MSE
Collaborators: N/A
Undergraduate Students
Julia Chiang
Undergraduate
(MSE & Chemistry)
jschiang@seas.upenn.edu
Julia is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania in the VIPER program majoring in Materials Science & Engineering and Chemistry. She joined the group in Summer 2024. Her research focuses on polymer electrolytes for sodium batteries and extreme heat solutions.
Ian Lumer
Undergraduate
(CBE & AI)
ilumer@seas.upenn.edu
Ian is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. He joined the group in Fall 2025. His research focuses on the infiltration-based strengthening of polymer-metal nanocomposites under the mentorship of Ph.D. student David Bujdos, investigating the morphology of diblock copolymer-infiltrated gold scaffolds to create mechanically reinforced nanomaterials. Additionally, Ian is carrying on the group’s environmental initiatives focused on combating urban heat and developing adaptations to extreme heat events in Philadelphia.
Ronith Lahoti
Undergraduate
(MSE & Chemistry)
ronith@seas.upenn.edu
Ronith is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania in the VIPER program majoring in Material Science & Engineering and Chemistry. He joined the group in the summer of 2026. His research is on the properties of nanoparticle-functionalized thin-film vitrimers and their applications as electrolytes.