College Research Centers

The College of Engineering and Polymer Science maintains a rich network of centers, institutes, and research labs that combine faculty expertise with industry partnerships and student learning.

Akron Engineering Tribology Laboratory (AETL)

Director: Dr. Christopher Dellacorte

The Akron Engineering Tribology Laboratory (AETL) provides a learning environment for students to develop problem solving skills to address industrial friction and wear (tribology) problems. The AETL: Conducts industry standard and cutting-edge testing as a means to train students and solve compelling industrial problems; Connects exemplary students with post-graduation career opportunities while they are on-campus.

Akron Functional Materials Center

Director: Dr. Yu Zhu

Directed by Dr. Yu Zhu, the focus of The Akron Functional Materials Center is to drive polymer innovations to achieve commercialization. The current themes associated with the research clusters are biomaterials, coatings and adhesives, 3-D printing, polymer assembly, and energy/electronic.

Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center (BRIC)

Directors: Dr. Peter Niewiarowski, Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, Dr. Christopher M. Miller, P.E., and Matthew Kolodziej

The Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center as an internationally recognized leader in the rapidly growing field of biomimicry. BRIC is dedicated to connecting artists, businesspeople, designers, engineers, and scientists to advance biomimicry-based innovation. Members develop curricula, promote awareness of biomimicry, and accelerate innovation in partnership with Great Lakes Biomimicry.

Center for Advanced Materials Performance (CAMP)

Director: Dr. Kwek-Tze Tan

CAMP draws from the expertise of more than 30 faculty members to provide corrosion and materials performance solutions to industry and government organizations. The center is home to a multimillion-dollar suite of equipment to provide research, testing and analysis in many ways.

Center for Advanced Vehicles and Energy Systems (CAVES)

Director: Dr. Yilmaz Sozer

The mission of The Center for Advanced Vehicles and Energy Systems is to be a leader in the creation of sustainable and clean energy sources, and to facilitate the adoption of these technologies. Specific expertise can be found in the areas of power electronics, charging stations, battery management, bidirectional grid-interfaces, motor design, motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar energy, fuel cells, energy harvesting, control systems, and wireless embedded networked sensor design.

The Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing (CPM)

Director: Dr. D. Dane Quinn

In partnership with The Timken Co., Swagelok, and Schaeffler Group USA, The Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing is a research center focused around developing new finishing technologies for the manufacturing industry.

Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe)

Director: Dr. Jae-Won Choi

The University of Akron and The University of Virginia operate The Center for Tire Research, a consortium of tire and tire-related industry members who offer technical advancement in the areas of tire and tire related materials, tire physics (including modeling), testing, manufacturing, and sustainability.

Coalescence Filtration Nanofibers Consortium (CFNC)

Director: Dr. Sadhan C. Jana

The research of the Coalescence Filtration Nanofibers Consortium centers on the performance of coalescence filters and the design of filter media, including the development and application of nanofibers.

FirstEnergy Advanced Energy Research Center

Director: Dr. Steven S.C. Chuang

Also known as The Chuang Research Group, lead by Dr. Steven S.C. Chaung, The FirstEnergy Advanced Energy Research Center researches CO2 capture and utilization, solid oxide fuel cells, natural gas utilization and storage, Li+/Al batteries, carbon-based functional materials, and photocatalysis to better understand the impact improved technologies have on our energy systems.

National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC)

Director: Dr. Mark Soucek

The National Polymer Innovation Center offers solutions in pilot-scale processing, surface and structural analysis, physical and chemical characterization, and more.

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