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
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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
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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
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Performance Materials Lab Celebrates Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati’s Acceptance to Brown University
It is with great pride that I share some exciting news from the Performance Materials Laboratory (PML): Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati has been accepted into the graduate program at Brown University. This achievement is a testament to Madhava’s dedication, intellectual curiosity, and the countless hours he has invested in his research and coursework. Brown University … Read more
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Returning to the Classroom: Mechatronics II, Fall 2026
I am pleased to share that I will once again be teaching Mechatronics II this fall semester. I really love teaching this course, and I look forward to working with a new group of students as they push their understanding of integrated mechanical, electrical, and software systems into genuinely applied territory. Mechatronics II builds directly … Read more
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Welcome to Charlotte: The 2026 REU Cohort Arrives on Campus
Nine undergraduate researchers begin their summer at UNC Charlotte, joining research groups across the College of Engineering. One joins the Performance Materials Laboratory. There is something about a first day that never gets old. Nine undergraduate researchers arrived on campus this week to begin the summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at UNC Charlotte, and … Read more
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Visits UNC Charlotte: Dr. Cait Clarkson Brings the Future of Sustainable Manufacturing to Our Department
The UNC Charlotte Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science welcomed Dr. Caitlyn Clarkson from Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility today for a Spring 2026 seminar that gave our faculty and students a front-row seat to some genuinely exciting applied materials science. Dr. Clarkson’s talk, “Large Scale Additive Manufacturing of Biobased and Biodegradable … Read more
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