Self-assembly; directed assembly; complex fluids; soft materials; colloids; nanomaterials; interfacial phenomena; polymers; surfactants; particles; formulations; biomass processing; plastics recycling; PFAS separations
Paschalis Alexandridis utilizes molecular interactions and supramolecular assemblies to develop processes that are environment friendly and energy efficient, and products with desired properties and function. Ongoing projects address structuring via self-assembly and directed assembly of block copolymers, fluorinated surfactant sequestration from aqueous solutions, environmentally responsible solvents (water, ionic liquids), biomass processing, and plastics recycling. He has worked with industry to address product and process issues involving complex fluids, soft materials, and surfaces, for example, formulation of waterborne inks for improved pigment deposition, prediction of long-term performance of biomedical cross-linked polymer gels, and control of adhesion during plastics processing.
Prof. Alexandridis has authored over 205 peer-reviewed articles (published in 70 different journals) and 70 proceedings (Google Scholar citations ≈ 24,700 and h-index = 80). He is the editor of two books and co-inventor of six U.S. patents on pharmaceutical formulations, superabsorbent polymers, and nanomaterial synthesis. He has served as Director of Graduate Studies in Chemical Engineering, Co-Director of the Materials Science and Engineering program, and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds an affiliate appointment in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, and has been visiting professor at Technical University of Crete, Kyushu University and Shinshu University. Alexandridis received his PhD in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1994, and joined UB in 1997 following postdoctoral research in polymer and surfactant physical chemistry at Lund University in Sweden.
At UB, Alexandridis has developed and taught courses such as "We All Live in a Material World" and "Molecular Nanotechnology and Bionanotechnology" (freshman-level seminars), "Colloid and Surface Phenomena", "Introduction to Polymers", and "Petroleum Engineering" (elective courses), and "Product Design" (required capstone design course). He has mentored in research over 90 graduate and 85 undergraduate students.
Prof. Alexandridis is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and International Association of Advanced Materials. He has received numerous awards including the American Chemical Society (ACS) Schoellkopf Medal, Bodossaki Foundation Academic Prize in Applied Science, SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity and in Teaching, and UB’s inaugural Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award. Alexandridis has served as chair of AIChE Area 1C: "Interfacial Phenomena" and on the executive committee of the ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry. He is currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, Review Editor of the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, and Associate Editor, Frontiers in Chemistry, "Green and Sustainable Chemistry" section.