Northeastern University College of Engineering

Wonder Week: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include advanced and intelligent manufacturing, data analytics engineering, energy systems, engineering management, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, product development, and product management.

CV/LinkedIn/Resume CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-04-07 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-14 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEof-quqzwiGNCi3nAuNVzIyX1jgXA03KYO
Graduate students, do you need to increase your on-line presence or update your CV or Resume? Join the CommLab’s LinkedIn, CV, and Resume drop-in hours any Tuesday from 11 am to 12 pm ET. This collaborative space offers valuable advice and peer feedback to enhance your online profile and professional presence. Join this drop-in workshop in person in room 334 CSC or through Zoom.

Wonder Week: MS in Sustainability Engineering Leadership Overview with University College Dublin
2026-04-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combined with the University College Dublin and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern MS in Sustainability Engineering Leadership Program Overview

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Richard Gyamfi Atta
2026-04-07 15:30 - 16:30
Name: Richard Gyamfi Atta
Title: Understanding Mucus-Bile Salt/ Phospholipid Mixed Micelle Interactions
Date: 04/07/2026
Time: 03:30:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Steve Lustig (Advisor)
Prof. Rebecca Carrier
Prof. Srirupa Chakraborty
Dennis Leung
Location: Forsyth 128
Abstract:
Bile salt–phospholipid mixed micelles play a central role in gastrointestinal transport of lipids and poorly water-soluble drugs, yet their interactions with mucin networks remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we combine time-resolved ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, two-dimensional correlation analysis, diffusion modeling, and isothermal titration calorimetry to resolve the sequence, energetics, and transport behavior of micelle–mucin interactions. The mucin network is first shown to relax into an equilibrium state governed by a glycan-dominated structural hierarchy. Upon exposure to mixed micelles, this equilibrated network undergoes a distinct sequence of reorganization initiated by perturbation of hydrogen-bonding interactions, followed by peptide backbone rearrangement and eventual glycan decoupling. Diffusion analysis reveals that micellar assemblies penetrate the mucin network with effective diffusivities on the order of 10⁻⁶ cm²/s despite ongoing structural evolution. Notably, the ability of a constant-diffusivity Fickian model to accurately describe transport under these conditions indicates that molecular-scale reorganization does not substantially alter the effective transport resistance over the measurement timescale, establishing a direct connection between spectroscopic dynamics and macroscopic transport behavior.
Calorimetric measurements further demonstrate a concentration-dependent transition from localized, enthalpy-driven binding at low micelle concentrations to cooperative, entropy-dominated network disruption at higher loadings associated with higher-order micellar aggregates. Together, these results show that bile salt micelles actively remodel mucin networks rather than traversing a static barrier, while maintaining effective diffusive transport. This work provides a molecular-level framework for understanding mucus- mediated transport and its implications for physiological processes and drug delivery.

Richard Gyamfi Atta is a Master’s candidate in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, where he conducts research in the Carrier and Lustig laboratories on transport phenomena across biological barriers. His work focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing interactions between bile salt–phospholipid assemblies and mucin networks, with the goal of improving drug transport across the gastrointestinal mucus layer. By integrating time-resolved ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, diffusion modeling, and calorimetry, he develops mechanistic frameworks that connect molecular-scale interactions to macroscopic transport behavior in complex biopolymer systems. In addition to his academic research, Richard has industry experience in gene therapy process development, where he contributed to downstream purification strategies for adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, including optimization of chromatography and filtration processes to improve product recovery and quality. His research interests are centered on pharmaceutical drug delivery, particularly the design of biomaterials and carrier systems that enhance the transport of poorly soluble drugs and biologics across mucosal and other physiological barriers. He aims to develop mechanistically driven approaches that bridge molecular interactions, material design, and transport phenomena to enable more effective and predictable drug delivery systems.

MIE Seminar: Engineering Design as a Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2026-04-07 15:30 - 16:30
Engineering Design as a Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Sundar Krishnamurty, Ronnie & Eugene Isenberg Distinguished Professor in Engineering
Vice Provost for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 358 Snell Engineering | 3:30 pm—4:30 pm
Abstract: This talk highlights how core engineering design principles—problem framing, systems thinking, prototyping, and validation—underpin fundamental and translational research, as well as an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. My research in design decision-making, ontology, and predictive analytics, as Site Director of the Center for e-Design at UMass Amherst, has enabled me to apply these principles across multiple projects, notably pressure vests for children with autism and retrofit seatbelt systems for motorcoaches. Those experiences naturally led me to take on a leadership role in the New England NSF I-Corps Hub program, a structured pathway for translating design-led research into real-world impact, and now to champion our campus’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity ecosystem.
The talk introduces NSF I-Corps and the UMass I-Corps Hub as experiential mechanisms for researchers to assess the real-world impact and commercial potential of their innovations. Practical benefits include evidence to refine research direction, stronger grant and translational proposals, expanded career pathways, and sustained connections to the innovation ecosystem. Importantly, the primary goal is learning and translation—not necessarily company formation—and the program provides concrete strategies for framing scholarly impact and moving research toward societal benefit.
Bio: Sundar Krishnamurty is Vice Provost for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has been the Ronnie & Eugene Isenberg Distinguished Professor in Engineering since 2020. In his current university leadership roles, he contributes to the Economic Development Leadership Team and serves as Lead Faculty at UMass Amherst as well as Tech Scout Lead for the NSF I-Corps Hub Northeast Region. His prior leadership appointments include Principal Investigator for NSF I-Corps @ UMass (2021–2025), Site Director for the NSF I/UCRC Center for e-Design (2012–2023), and Department Head of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (2015–2025), following earlier service as Interim and Associate Department Head. From 2015 to 2020 he was Associate Director of the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring and Director of the Advanced Design and Fabrication (ADDFab) Lab. Krishnamurty is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, was inducted into the 2024 class of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, and received the 2022 Excellence in Research Award from ASME’s Computers and Information in Engineering Division.
Hosted by: Department Chair & Professor, Yingzi Lin in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Wonder Week: Information and Software Programs Co-op
2026-04-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include data architecture and management, information systems, information systems—(Bridge), and software engineering systems

Intro to Quantum Seminar for the Northeastern Community
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:00
Spring 2026, West Village H Room 366, Fridays 10-11am, Weekly
Gregory A. Fiete, Professor of Physics, College of Science, Northeastern University
Purpose and Synopsis: Curious about quantum physics but not a physicist or physics major? This seminar series is your chance to learn the fundamentals of quantum physics, quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum cryptography, and quantum communication in an informal atmosphere without the need to register for a class. The seminar, open to all in the Northeastern community, will begin from basics assuming no prior knowledge of quantum mechanics and build through key concepts relevant to quantum technologies. The first weeks of the seminar will feature tutorial lectures and then the seminar will host experts from across campus who will give accessible talks on their quantum research. The aim is to bring together the entire Northeastern community in a single setting for establishing multi-disciplinary ties across the university for all who have an interest in quantum. Students, postdocs, staff and faculty at all levels are welcome. Questions and interactive discussions during the seminar are encouraged.
Topics Covered: Entanglement, Measurement Disturbance of Quantum Systems, Logic Gates, Quantum Advantage, No Cloning Theorem, Quantum Teleportation, EPR Paradox, Spin, Hilbert Spaces, Basic Mathematical Structure of Quantum Mechanics, Heisenberg Uncertainty Relations.
Speaker/Instructor Bio: Greg is a theoretical physicist specializing in the study of exotic quantum properties of materials. He received his PhD in physics from Harvard University and did postdoctoral work at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara. He was a Lee A. DuBridge Prize Fellow in Theoretical Physics at Caltech. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, a DARPA Director’s Fellowship, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a Simons Fellowship in Theoretical Physics, and a Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. Greg is a core and founding member of the Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI) at Northeastern University.
Schedule of seminars

Wonder Week: Information and Software Engineering Programs
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include data architecture and management, information systems, information systems—(Bridge), and software engineering systems.

Wonder Week: MS in Semiconductor Engineering Program Overview
2026-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.

Bioengineering Spring Seminar Series
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-15 12:00 - 13:00
BIOE 7390 – Spring 2026
Bioengineering Seminar Series Schedule
Internal and external faculty seminar speakers, weekly 12-1pm on Wednesdays in Richards Hall 300
JANUARY
1/7 – Jonathan Weissman, PhD
Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Whitehead Institute
1/14 – Joey Davis, PhD
Associate Professor Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1/21 – David Cronin, MBA
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, Cognition Corporation
1/28 – Amir Vahabikashi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
FEBRUARY
2/4 – Wilson Wong, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University
2/11 – Christopher Evans, PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic
2/18 – None
2/25 – None
MARCH
3/4 – None, spring break
3/11 – Vijay Vedula, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
3/18 – Ibraheem Badejo, PhD
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Senior Director, External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson Innovation
3/25 – Tao Sun, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
APRIL
4/1 – Marsha Rolle, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Director, Advancement, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
4/8 – Era Jain, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University
4/15 – Meghan Rebuli, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Sofia Roger
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00
Name: Sofia Roger
Title: Development and Evaluation of Learning Tool for a Global Review of Mineral Commodities
Date: 04/08/2026
Time: 12:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Luke Landherr (Advisor)
Prof. Joshua Gallaway
Prof. Alexis Prybutok
Location: Ryder 205
Abstract:
Engineering is a highly collaborative, intersectional practice that depends on transforming raw materials. Despite this relationship, it is difficult to explain how engineers’ decisions in industrial settings affect the rest of the world. The consequences of sourcing materials for technological advancement may not always be explicit. The effects of engineers consuming material can have cascading consequences or be so removed that they fall outside design concerns. To promote discussion of the socioeconomic effects of raw material consumption in engineering, this work aimed to develop a website-based learning tool, www.wherematerialscomefrom.com. The tool provides context on the mining processes used to obtain raw materials. Through survey data collection, the tool was evaluated for its ability to help users understand how raw materials are acquired.

Sofia Roger completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and has since decided to pursue her master’s also in Chemical Engineering as part of Northeastern’s plus one program. She completed two co-ops, during which she participated in the research and design of solid-state sulfur-chalcogen batteries at Avanti Battery Co. and the development of conductive ceramic for high-temperature reactor design at Lydian Labs. Her experience in materials engineering for sustainable technology motivated her to explore which environmentally sound raw materials can be used to innovate. This motivation gave rise to the educational tool developed in her thesis work.

Oral Presentations: CommLab Drop-In Workshops
2026-04-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-16 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z5yCbd9WQ_OvtJoYqYSsMA
The NU CommLab is hosting a weekly hybrid Oral Presentation Drop-in practice for graduate students. Drop-in virtually or in-person any week to practice for your upcoming presentations whether it is for your oral exams, proposals, thesis, dissertation or conference. Receive and implement feedback on your verbal and non-verbal public speaking skills. Drop-in any Thursday from 11-12 pm ET in 334 Curry Student Center or on Zoom.

Wonder Week: Chemical Engineering
2026-04-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed include chemical engineering and pharmaceutical engineering.

Wonder Week: Disciplinary Co-op
2026-04-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
All programs, except for those covered in the information and software engineering co-op session, will be discussed in this webinar.

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Austin Breed
2026-04-10 13:00 - 14:00
Name: Austin Breed
Title: Fabrication of Na-ion Intercalation Materials for Kinetic Energy Harvesting
Date: 04/10/2026
Time: 01:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Joshua Gallaway (Advisor)
Prof. Sanjeev Mukerjee
Prof. Magda Barecka
Enock Nagelli, PhD
Location: Snell Library 001
Abstract:
This work investigates ion-solvation switching as a mechanism for electrochemical kinetic energy harvesting (EKEH) in low-power, confined environments, motivated by the growing demand for sustainable energy sources for distributed electronics. Long-term stability, confined area design, and unsteady current output limit contemporary harvesting designs, often hamstrung by material engineering shortfalls. Copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) is a Prussian blue analogue (PBA) promising new active material under investigation in long-term storage and kinetic harvesting devices due to its face-centered cubic (FCC) structure conducive to ion-intercalation, adequate theoretical capacity, and stability comparative to traditional Prussian blue cathodes. However, CuHCF still experiences notable capacity fade and mechanical degradation during prolonged exposure to aqueous electrolyte. This study fabricated copper CuHCF electrodes, evaluated their structure using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and, for varying fabrication parameters, used electrochemical methods including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and open-circuit potential (OCP) power cycles to benchmark performance and
durability impacts.
Results confirm that CuHCF-based systems can reproduce switching potentials on the order of ~0.40 mV. Though consistent with prior reports, this work demonstrated prolonged voltage saturation time, highlighting evidence of kinetic and diffusional limitations. Material composition strongly influenced electrochemical performance, where Fe(II)-rich CuHCF exhibited improved reversibility and reduced overpotentials, suggesting enhanced charge-transfer kinetics and structural stability, albeit with a modest reduction in capacity. Electrolyte concentration further impacted performance, reinforcing its importance as a design parameter. Thermal annealing degraded electrochemical initial performance, likely due to the loss of interstitial water and disruption of ion transport pathways.
This work elucidated the sensitivity of performance and stability to various fabrication parameters in Na-ion intercalation materials for this ion-solvation switching applications.
Furthermore, this study highlights key trade-offs between stability, capacity, and voltage saturation in CuHCF-based ion-solvation switching systems and identifies critical areas for improvement, particularly in materials engineering and electrolyte optimization, to enable practical implementation of next generation electrochemical energy harvesting technologies. Understanding the causal relationships between fabrication methods and these measured quantities will drive future work towards mitigating these failure modes and limitations.

Austin Grant Breed, BS, EIT Austin is currently pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, conducting research in the Gallaway Lab focused on electrochemical kinetic energy harvesting. He completed his undergraduate training in Chemical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his time at West Point, he conducted research in hemorheology, developing stochastic models of large amplitude oscillatory shear forces in human blood, and participated in a waste-to-energy demonstration project involving synthetic gas production via rotary kiln gasification. He also interned at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he analyzed the kinetic and aerodynamic effects of nanotechnology integrated into solid chemical propellants. Austin earned his EIT status in 2017. Prior to graduate school, Austin served over seven years as a commissioned U.S. Army Aviation Officer, accumulating approximately 750 flight hours across multiple rotary- and fixed-wing platforms including the CH-47F Chinook. His most recent military culminated in command of an aviation maintenance company in the 2-501st General Support Aviation Battalion at Fort Bliss, where he oversaw maintenance operations for a 34-aircraft fleet and over 175 soldiers. He also served in several leadership roles supporting NATO deterrence operations in Europe and Korea. Austin’s service was recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal, the Honorable Order of St. Michael, and several other distinctions. Last year, Austin served as a project lead at Storion Energy in Wilmington, MA, directing the development and assessment of a novel continuous vanadium electrolyte production process — work that also forms the basis of his thesis defense through Northeastern University’s Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership fellowship. After completing his MS, Austin plans to continue working towards his PhD in chemical engineering with the Gallaway Lab while instructing within the chemical engineering department at West Point.

Prehistoric Quantum Bits: Experiments Testing the Fundamental Physics Of Superconducting Quantum Devices
2026-04-10 15:00 - 17:30
Pran and Shashi Nath Distinguished Lecture 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
3:00-5:30pm
EXP 804 and Atrium – Register here.

Held annually by the Department of Physics, the Nath Distinguished Lecture Series celebrates discoveries and significant advances on the frontiers of physics and to recognize Northeastern University’s unique contribution to knowledge enhancement witnessed by Pran Nath and Shashi Nath over nearly six decades of their association with the university.
This year’s lecture features 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Prof. John Martinis of UC Santa Barbara and Qolab, who will be speaking on Prehistoric quantum bits: experiments testing the fundamental physics of superconducting quantum devices.
Agenda
2:15 PM Doors open for pre-reception
3:00 PM Lecture begins
4:30 PM Networking reception
This event is complimentary, but registration is required to ensure a quality experience for all. Register here.

• •

Featured Speaker
John Martinis, PhD
UC Santa Barbara and Qolab
2025 Nobel Prize in Physics
Lecture Abstract
Quantum mechanics was developed to describe the physics of the small, for fundamental particles, atoms and molecules. But does it still work for macroscopic systems? My PhD thesis experiment in 1985 tested this idea, showing the macroscopic current and voltages in a 1 cm chip obey the quantum phenomena of tunneling and energy-level quantization, proving that a superconducting circuit can behave as a single ‘artificial atom.’
Over the last four decades, many physicists around the world have continued research on quantum devices. The field has evolved from fundamental tests into a high-stakes effort to build quantum bits and a quantum computer. At Google, our ‘quantum supremacy’ experiment was the culmination of this system-level optimization, proving that a processor could outpace classical supercomputers by maintaining high-fidelity control over a huge computational (Hilbert) space. Now, at my startup Qolab, we are leveraging 300mm semiconductor fabrication to achieve the extreme uniformity and yield necessary to build a useful general-purpose quantum computer.

Pathways & Pourovers
2026-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The Cabral Center, 40 Leon Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Pathways & Pourovers (P&P) is a first-of-its-kind elevated career development and networking event designed for our engineering PhD students. The event brings together PhD students and Industry Specialists for structured, action-oriented discussions focused on career pathways and professional positioning.

Event Date: (Spring 2026) Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (arrive by 5:45 pm)
Location: The Cabral Center (40 Leon Street), Northeastern University
Hosted by: College of Engineering PhD Council · MIE PhD Council
Provided: dinner · parking passes · table brief · student bios

This is NOT a recruiting, interviewing, mentorship program, or resume workshop (no resume collection). Purely conversational for one evening over dinner.
Time commitment required is just 2 hours, no prep necessary.
WHO CAN BE AN INDUSTRY SPECIALIST
Someone with a PhD who can speak candidly about early career steps and help PhD students turn plans into action. Alumni are encouraged, but not required. Faculty members are welcome.
FORMAT AT A GLANCE
[5:00 pm – 6:00 pm] Students‑Only Action Session: students learn concrete tactics, send outreach messages
[5:45 pm – 6:00 pm] Industry Specialists’ arrival & welcome
[6:00 pm – 6:20 pm] Situational Q&A: fast, practical answers to real scenarios
[6:20 pm – 7:45 pm] Round‑tables over dinner: domain‑matched round tables with open discussions, Industry Specialists’ advice on student outcomes (5 – 8 students and 1 Industry Specialist per table)
[7:45 pm – 8:00 pm] Open networking + wrap

YOUR ROLE AS AN INDUSTRY SPECIALIST

Think of this like a career panel, but more within a domain specific focus group.
Your role will mainly be to share your viewpoint on a few situational questions regarding early career steps, and then to chat with 6-8 PhD students from your domain, where you share your success story, experiences, and advice.
Any follow-ups or future commitments are purely optional and at your own discretion.

Please fill out this form if you are interested!
Please expect follow up emails from the Event Lead, Karan Shah (shah.karan@northeastern.edu).
Any questions can be directed to Karan as well via Email.

Fusion Book Club Film: Coded Bias
2026-04-13 16:30 - 18:30
Please join us for a small group film screening and discussion:

When: Monday, April 13 at 4:30pm (ET)
Where: Snell Library Research and Teaching Hub (SL-215A)
What we are watching: Coded Bias – When researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces accurately, she embarks on a journey to push for the first-ever U.S. legislation against bias in algorithms that impact us all.

Take a break to watch a film, enjoy some food, and connect with one another.
Registration is required as seats are limited. Please register on the library calendar event page.

Donuts and Donations
2026-04-14 09:00 - 10:00
Make Your Mark on Giving Day — and Grab a Donut!
Today is the day to power the future of engineering at Northeastern! Whether it’s supporting student scholarships, groundbreaking research, or our top-ranked co-op programs, your gift makes a direct impact on the College of Engineering community.
To celebrate, we’re hosting Donuts with the Dean! Stop by to say hello, grab a treat, and learn how your contribution helps our students become next-generation leaders.
Where to find us
📍 Outside Snell Engineering Center (Near the entryway facing the Egan Building)
When to stop by
🍩 Morning Session | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
🍩 Afternoon Session | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Every gift, no matter the size, helps us reach our goals. Let’s show the world what the COE community can do when we work together.

Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-04-14 10:00 - 11:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/99770601100?pwd=[REDACTED]
Looking to illustrate your data? Join our Data Visualization Drop-In sessions Tuesdays from 10-11am on Zoom to discuss strategies or receive feedback on your data visualization process.

CommLab Workshop Series: Automating Your Data Visualization Process with Python
2026-05-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-12 10:00 - 11:00
Looking to boost your skills in showcasing data? Join the CommLab’s Python Data Visualization workshop this coming May to expand your data visualization toolkit and streamline your illustration process with simple Python programming.

Over the course of three sessions, we’ll demonstrate how to setup and interact with a user-friendly Python plotting environment before walking through the basics of importing and plotting your data. This workshop requires no prior Python knowledge.

Tools of the Trade and System Setup
May 5th, 10-11am Zoom
– Installing Miniconda and VSCode
– Setting up your Python environment with data visualization tools
– Interactive Python plotting using Jupyter Notebooks

Getting Comfortable with Python for Data Illustration
May 12th, 10-11am Zoom or in room 334 Curry Student Center
– Basic Python plotting with Matplotlib
– Plotting examples with full tutorials

Importing Your Data for Tailored Visualization
May 19th, 10-11am Zoom or in room 334 Curry Student Center
– Using Pandas for data management
– Putting it all together with Seaborn

Bioengineering Student WIP Seminar - Summer '26
2026-05-06 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00
Work in Progress (WIP) seminars with Bioengineering PhD students. Weekly in 121 Snell Library from 12-1pm on Wednesdays during Summer 1.
All are welcome!

PhD Candidate
Faculty Advisor

MAY

5/6
Qiaochu Liu
Lei Wang

Mitchell Thomas
Jing-Ke Weng

5/13
Sophia Millan
Amir Vahabikashi

Ysabel del Fierro
Rebecca Willits

5/20
Rui Tang
Neel Joshi

Xiwen Zhao
Mingyang Lu

5/27
Neelabh Sharma
Elizabeth Libby

Katya Karpova
Guohao Dai

JUNE

6/3
Fan-Yu Yen
Qianqian Fang

Hannah Harens
Nikolai Slavov

6/10
Grace Flynn
Guohao Dai

Ivonne Lozano
Bryan Spring

6/17
Masoud Keramati
Mary Jo Ondrechen

Ashlyn McCann
Qianqian Fang

ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Kevin Yang
2026-05-08 13:00 - 14:00
Name:
Kevin Yang
Title:
Structural Investigation of Single-Atom Catalysts in HCl Electrolysis, CO₂ Reduction, and Li-S Batteries
Date:
05/08/2026
Time:
01:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Sanjeev Mukerjee (Advisor)
Prof. Joshua Gallaway
Prof. Hannah Sayre
Prof. Magda Barecka
Location:
EXP 202
Abstract:
Transition metal single-atom catalysts have emerged as a promising class of materials for electrochemical energy conversion and storage due to their high atomic utilization, tunable electronic structure, well-defined active sites, and use to high earth abundant metals. Metal nitrogen carbon (M-N-C) catalysts are practical in a wide range of electrochemical systems. However, the development of M-N-C catalysts into industrial systems still requires much effort, in part, due to the lack of durability and stability studies. M-N-C catalysts can be used in oxygen depolarized cathode (ODC) HCl electrolysis, CO2 reduction, and lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Understanding the mechanisms of M-N-C degradation, durability, and effects of modifications to such catalysts would ultimately benefit their implementation in each electrochemical system. Chapter 1 introduces M-N-C catalysts and the various electrochemical systems they will be used in (ODC HCl electrolysis, CO2 reduction, and Li-S batteries).
In chapter two, we investigate the durability of the Fe-N-C catalyst in ODC HCl electrolysis. Fe-N-C exhibits high oxygen reduction activity and strong resistance to chloride poisoning relative to most noble metal catalysts. However, its durability and degradation mechanisms in HCl electrolysis are not well studied. Through a combination of durability studies, accelerated stress tests, and multimodal spectroscopic techniques, we identified two main degradation pathways: an operational demetallation of Fe-N4 active sites under sustained polarization and a carbon-corrosion-induced demetallation that occurs during the transient conditions of uncontrolled shutdown. Spectroscopic analysis reveals one unstable FeN4 moiety and two stable Fe-N-C moieties that can withstand the HCl electrolysis operating conditions. These findings establish a mechanism for Fe-N-C degradation to drive future catalyst design.
In chapter three, we modify Fe-N-C catalyst and Ni-N-C catalyst with heteroatom dopants to observe their effects on CO2 reduction activity, product selectivity, and the correlation with the changes in electronic and coordination structure. Using a post-pyrolysis treatment process, we dope the environment around the metal active center either by introducing an axial ligand or binding to the carbon structure. Utilizing in situ/operando XAS, we found that the dopants are generally not stable and can introduce a site-blocking effect at low overpotentials. Through these findings, we find that the axial ligand dopants are not durable during CO2 reduction and do not make large contributions to the activity or product distribution of Ni-N-C and Fe-N-C in CO2 reduction.
In chapter four, we investigate the effects of metal centers for M-N-C in polysulfide conversion and the changes in the active site structure after operation. The catalytic activity of M-N-C catalysts varies largely with different metal centers and coordinating environments. We find that Co-N-C and Fe-N-C favor the oxidation of short-chain polysulfides to elemental sulfur, while Sn-N-C and Ni-N-C make a larger contribution to the reduction of elemental sulfur to short-chain polysulfides. Mo-N-C, which had the presence of Mo nanoparticles, exhibited the lowest increase in performance compared to the others. This finding emphasizes the catalytic capability and importance of synthesizing purer M-N-C catalysts. All M-N-C catalysts were able to impact the conversion of lithium polysulfides to gain performance greater than baseline carbon. X-ray spectroscopic methods were used to analyze the structure of the M-N-C catalyst at various cycles to find that the active site structure of Fe-N-C undergoes a partial change to form Fe2O3, while Co-N-C and Ni-N-C remain relatively stable. This change in the active site could be a cause of capacity decay in Li-S batteries.
Chapter 5 summarizes the findings and offers suggestions for future work.

Kevin Yang is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, where his research focuses on understanding structure–property relationships in single-atom catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. His work spans multiple electrochemical systems, including oxygen depolarized cathodes for hydrochloric acid electrolysis, CO₂ electroreduction, and lithium–sulfur batteries, with an overarching emphasis on how catalyst active sites evolve under operating conditions and how those structural changes govern activity, selectivity, and durability. Kevin’s research combines electrochemical engineering with advanced multimodal characterization, including in situ and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and electrochemical diagnostics. Through this work, he has developed mechanistic insights into active site degradation pathways in Fe–N–C and other transition metal–nitrogen–carbon single-atom catalysts, helping bridge fundamental catalyst chemistry with practical reactor operation.
