Peter Kofinas is Professor and Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland. He was previously appointed Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Graduate Programs in the Clark School of Engineering, where he also served as the Equity Officer and Diversity Officer for the Clark School.
Dr. Kofinas received Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT in 1994 as part of the interdisciplinary Program of Polymer Science and Technology (PPST). He was then trained as a post-doctoral research associate in the department of Chemical Engineering at MIT for 2 years before joining the faculty at University of Maryland in 1996.
The main thrust of Professor Kofinas' research program aims in the synthesis, characterization, and processing of novel polymer based architectures used in a variety of technologies and devices ranging from energy storage to medical devices. Present problems of interest include: solution blow spun functional polymers as surgical sealants; biosensors for the detection of pathogens; point-of-care diagnostics; non-flammable air-stable solid polymer electrolytes for lithium ion batteries; functional magnetodielectric polymer nanocomposites for flexible antennas.
Professor Kofinas received the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation in 1999 for his research and educational activities on block copolymer nanostructures. Professor Kofinas was awarded the Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching award from the School of Engineering at the University of Maryland in 1999. In 2006, Professor Kofinas was awarded the endowed Keystone Professorship for his exemplary undergraduate teaching skills and commitment to excellence in teaching fundamental engineering courses. The Keystone Professorship appointment was renewed in 2009. In 2007, Dr. Kofinas won the Outstanding Invention of the Year award for the second time, awarded by the Office of Technology Commercialization at the University of Maryland. In 2011 Dr. Kofinas received the Engaged Faculty Award 2011, from the Clark School of Engineering, U. of Maryland. This is an honor that has been bestowed upon faculty by the Clark School of Engineering through undergraduate student nominations, because they are approachable, take a genuine interest in and have concern for their students, especially outside of the classroom, are accessible, have high expectations of their students, encourage students and provide advice and support on academic and extracurricular activities. In 2012 Dr. Kofinas received the Senior Faculty Outstanding Research Award of the Clark School of Engineering. In 2013 Dr. Kofinas received the Faculty Outstanding Service Award of the Clark School of Engineering.
Post-Doctoral Fellow in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland
PROJECT:
Analysis and Characterization of Electrodes and Electrolytes for Low Temperature Applications
Contact: fburni@umd.edu
Post-Doctoral Fellow in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Honors B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
PROJECT:
Analysis and Characterization of Electrodes and Electrolytes for Low Temperature Applications
Contact: chriswj@umd.edu
Ph.D. Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
Dual B.S. Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
PROJECT:
Sprayable Polymer for Prevention of Postoperative Adhesions
Contact: rjmorris@umd.edu
Ph.D. Candidate in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech
PROJECT:
Aqueous Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Contact: patmg98@umd.edu
Ph.D. Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
M.S. Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University
B.Tech. Chemical Engineering, BVRIT
PROJECT:
Polymeric Film Adhesion Barriers
Contact: tnori@umd.edu
Ph.D. Student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
M.S. Chemical Engineering & Technology, Jiangsu University
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
PROJECT:
Contact: esam@umd.edu
Ph.D. Student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
B.S. Chemistry, Towson University
PROJECT:
Contact: sbernota@umd.edu
Master's Student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
PROJECT:
Stay Tuned
Contact: jblink@terpmail.umd.edu
Sherief Zaki Nicolas Roza
Sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Phillip Asiamah Jacob Zipp
Senior Fire Protection Engineering Sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Sofia Jackson Ben Tabor
Sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Atticus Nemeroff Rafael Virador
Junior Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Bioengineering
Abigail Alabi Adam Morad
Sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Rebecca Fedderwitz, PhD 2023
Current position: Materials Research Consultant
Kyle Ludwig, PhD 2023
Current position: Staff Scientist
Metecan Erdi, PhD 2022
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Manogna Balabhadraptruni, MS 2021
Current position: Process Development Senior Associate at Amgen
Matthew Widstrom, PhD 2019
Current position: General Engineer at FDA
John Daristotle, PhD 2019
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Leopoldo Torres, PhD 2019
Current position: Senior Chemist at Senseonics
Joseph Hunter, MS 2018
Mert Vural, PhD 2016
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Penn State University
Adam M. Behrens, PhD 2015
Current position: Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Mori
Omar Ayyub, PhD 2014
Current position: Chief Scientific Officer at Archimedes Bioengineering
Kankindi Rwego, MS 2014
Current position: USPTO
Josh Silverstein, PhD 2013
Current position: Biomedical Engineer at the FDA
Angela Mariani, PhD 2013
Current position: Biomedical Engineer at the FDA
Irene Bacalocostantis, PhD 2013
Current position: Senior Manager, Combination Products- Regulatory Affairs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aaron Fisher, PhD 2012
Current position: Technology and Innovation ManagerWater at Environment Research Foundation
Angela Fu, PhD 2012
Current position: Business Analyst at Accenture
Brendan Casey, PhD 2010
Current position: Regulatory Affairs Manager, Critical and Chronic Care Solutions Division at 3M
Daniel Janiak, PhD 2009
Current position: Associate at Mercury Fund
Von Cresce, PhD 2009
Current position: Research Scientist at ARL
Ayan Gosh, PhD 2009
Current position: Process TD Engineer at Intel Corporation
Ta-I Yang, PhD 2008
Current position: Assistant Professor at Chung Yuan Christian University