The Performance Materials Lab advances clean water, next-generation coatings, and sustainable materials science, from the Arctic to the Caribbean, by pairing 25 years of industry experience with rigorous fundamental science.
Advanced Materials & Coatings
Ultra-hard ceramic coatings and composites engineered for aerospace, thermal-control, and extreme-environment applications.
Sustainable & Biobased Materials
Bio-based composites from waste-stream fibers, including hemp hurd cellulose microfiber, replacing petroleum-derived materials.
Clean Water Security
Water contamination and filtration materials for PFAS and microplastics remediation, from Arctic ice to Caribbean reefs.
Recent Milestones from the Lab
PML Undergraduates Present at Research Symposium
Shamar Lindo and Liam Eckhart presented their work extracting nanocellulose from hemp agricultural waste at the Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium.
REU Student Advances Semiconductor Research
REU student Derek Heidenfelder conducted density functional theory calculations on advanced semiconductor materials for energy applications using the university supercomputer.
PML Alum Heads to Brown University
Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati was accepted into Brown University’s graduate program, reflecting his dedication to research and coursework in the lab.
Modeling the Transport of Forever Chemicals in the Arctic Ocean
Undergraduate researcher Sam Phillips presented this work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond, Virginia.
Twenty-five years bridging industrial materials science and university research, now leading discovery from the classroom to the field.
“Our research sits at the intersection of materials science and environmental sensing, developing technological solutions for aerospace, optical, and environmental applications.”
Dr. Roger Tipton, DirectorLed by a Scientist Who Has Also Been the CEO
Dr. Roger Tipton spent more than twenty years in industry, from manufacturing engineer on the shop floor to chief executive officer, before completing his Ph.D. in Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering at the University of South Florida. He has secured more than $1 million in federal and industrial research funding and leads field expeditions from the Arctic to the Caribbean.
Impact by the Numbers
A lab built on two decades of industrial experience and rigorous federally funded research, with a field presence from the Arctic to the Caribbean.
YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
20+
From shop-floor manufacturing engineer to CEO before earning a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering.
IN RESEARCH FUNDING SECURED
$1M+
In federal and industrial research funding secured as principal or co-principal investigator.
FIELD EXPEDITIONS
5
Field campaigns spanning the Arctic to the Caribbean, including polar and tropical water-quality expeditions.
GRANTED U.S. PATENTS
3
Three granted U.S. patents covering novel materials and sensing technologies developed in the lab.
Life in the Field
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sailing during a Caribbean field expedition
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Arctic field research
Latest News from the Lab
-
Taking Our Biocomposites Research to CAMX 2026
Next week I will be in Atlanta for CAMX, the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, taking place September 21 to 24. I am looking forward to it for two reasons. First, our team is presenting work on biocomposites. The Performance Materials Laboratory has been developing sustainable biocomposites, and CAMX is the right room to share…
-
REU Student Derek Heidenfelder Wraps Up a Great Summer in PML
This summer, the Performance Materials Laboratory (PML) had the pleasure of hosting Derek Heidenfelder as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) student. Derek spent the summer running density functional theory (DFT) calculations on advanced semiconductor materials for energy applications, using the UNC Charlotte supercomputer to carry out his simulations. Computational materials research requires a different … Read more
-
PML Undergraduates Shine at the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Research Symposium
The Performance Materials Laboratory (PML) had a wonderful showing at this year’s UNC Charlotte Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium, where undergraduate researchers Shamar Lindo and Liam Eckhart presented their poster on extracting nanocellulose from hemp hurd agricultural waste. Their work was coauthored by Ali Alkhabbaz and PhD candidate Md Shah Nawaz Arafin, who served as … Read more
Interested in Collaborating or Joining the Lab?
Reach out about research collaborations, sponsored projects, graduate opportunities, or consulting inquiries.
