Chemical Engineering Fall Seminar Series: Peter Kofinas
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Seminar Title: Enabling Sub-Ambient Li-Ion Performance and Postoperative Anti-Adhesion Protection with Functional Material Design

Location: 108 SN
Abstract: Research in the Kofinas Laboratory focuses on the design, synthesis, and processing of functional materials for energy storage, printed electronics, and biomedical technologies. This presentation will focus on two complementary thrusts:
Electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries in extreme environments: We develop solid and water-based polymer electrolyte platforms engineered for improved safety and long-term reliability. A key emphasis is enabling stable ion transport at low temperatures, with target performance metrics that include broadened electrochemical stability windows and sustained ionic conductivity under sub-ambient conditions relevant to cold-weather and extreme-environment operation.
Anti-adhesion biomaterials for surgery: We design biodegradable, functional polymer blends to mitigate postoperative adhesions. Using solution blow spinning, we directly deposit conformal fibrous mats onto wet and irregular tissue surfaces. Upon warming to body temperature, these fibers transition into protective films that adhere selectively, provide localized coverage, and degrade on a controlled timeline. These features intended to support use across abdominal, cardiac, and gynecologic procedures. Across both thrusts, we integrate polymer chemistry, transport and electrochemistry, interfacial science, and scalable processing, paired with application-driven testing. The overarching goal is to translate functional polymer systems into safer lithium-ion batteries and clinically practical anti-adhesion barriers suitable for operating-room deployment.

Peter Koﬁnas is Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland (since July 2017). A member of the UMD faculty since 1996, he previously served as Associate Dean for Faculty Aﬀairs and Graduate Programs in the A. James Clark School of Engineering and also as Equity Oﬃcer and Diversity Oﬃcer. He holds aﬃliate (courtesy) appointments in Bioengineering and in Materials Science and Engineering. Koﬁnas earned his SB and SM in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 1989 and a PhD in Polymers from MIT in 1994, followed by two years as a postdoctoral associate in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering. He directs the Functional Macromolecular Laboratory (FML; fml.umd.edu), which advances functional polymers for medicine and pharmaceutics, energy storage, and microelectronics. His group focuses on the synthesis and structure–property relationships of complex polymer architectures, with current projects in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, additive manufacturing for printed electronics, and sprayable surgical materials to prevent postoperative adhesions. Kofinas is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the Clark School’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching, Senior Faculty Outstanding Research, and Faculty Outstanding Service awards. He holds the endowed Keystone Professorship for excellence in undergraduate teaching and is also an Engaged Faculty Award honoree. Born in Switzerland and raised in Greece, he is bilingual in French and Greek and speaks fluent English, German, Spanish, and Italian. A former concert pianist, he is currently a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt.

First Year COE Students - Cookies with the Dean / FYELIC Open House
2026-01-14 14:30 - 16:00 | 368 SN, 360 Huntington Ave, 368 SN, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Incoming first-year engineering students, join Dean Abowd for cookies and a FYELIC Open House to start off the new semester.

The Gordon Institute: Virtual Information Session
2026-01-14 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Learn how you can earn a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership through The Gordon Institute as a stand-alone certificate or in combination with one of 20 Master of Science degrees offered through Northeastern University College of Engineering, Northeastern University College of Science, or Khoury College of Computer Sciences.
You will have the opportunity to hear from alumni about how The Gordon Institute propelled their engineering careers, speak with program professors about the curriculum, and ask the director of admissions your application questions for fall 2026.
Upcoming Information Session Dates:

October 8, 2025 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
November 5, 2025 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
January 14, 2026 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

The Gordon Institute also offers one-on-one info calls with admissions representatives. If you are interested in scheduling a call, please contact Amy Manley at a.manley@northeastern.edu.

Bioengineering Spring Seminar Series
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-04 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

COE Global Co-op Info Session
2026-01-22 17:30 - 18:30
This is an in-person information session hosted by the College of Engineering Global Co-op Team. Location: 909 Renaissance Park
We will focus on searching for co-ops abroad for the Fall 2026 semester or later.

Have you ever thought about doing co-op in another country?
Would you like to learn more about available co-op opportunities, or creating your own opportunities abroad?
Are you curious about the logistics associated with a global co-op?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we hope you’ll attend so that we can introduce you to the search process and provide you with some important resources.
These info sessions are a great opportunity to connect with the COE Global Co-op Team and students who have participated in global co-op in past semesters. If you have questions or would like more information, please find our contact information below.
Please register on the NUworks Calendar.
Sally Conant, s.conant@northeastern.edu
Kristina Hubbard, k.hubbard@northeastern.edu
We look forward to meeting you!

INSI Distinguished Speaker
2026-01-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Speaker: Prof. John Gustafson, Arizona State University
Title: Next-Generation Arithmetic
When: Friday, January 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Teams Link: INSI Distinguished Seminar Speaker – John Gustafson | Meeting Chat | Microsoft Teams
Abstract: IEEE Standard floating-point arithmetic wastes energy, power, memory, and bandwidth, all of which are critical burdens for AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and embedded computing. These shortcomings have given rise to completely new ways to represent real numbers on computers, and a revolution is underway that may give us the effect of one or two more doublings of performance now that Moore’s law is no longer providing such performance doublings through transistor technology. It is also now becoming possible to customize the vocabulary of a number system to match what is required for a particular application; this means better answers are possible using fewer bits. The posit format introduced in 2017 has matured to the point where it can serve as a drop-in replacement for the outdated IEEE floating-point format. Recent developments (2025) now show that an N-bit posit can use less energy and silicon area than an N-bit IEEE float and also reduce time-per-operation. This is a breakthrough in fundamental computer design.
Speaker bio:
Prof. John L. Gustafson (www.johngustafson.net) is Chief Scientist of Vq Research and a Visiting Scholar at Arizona State University. He is the inventor of several novel forms of computer arithmetic first introduced in his 2015 book, The End of Error: Unum Computing. He extended that work in 2025 with Every Bit Counts: Posit Computing. He is best known for his 1988 argument showing that parallel processing performance need not be limited by “Amdahl’s law,” now generally known as Gustafson’s law. Previously, he has been Senior Fellow and Chief Product Architect at AMD and a Director of Intel Labs. He is a recipient of the inaugural Gordon Bell Prize and is a Golden Core member of IEEE.

Introduction to Citation Managers
2026-01-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-27 13:00 - 14:00
Learn how to manage your references, organize your research and quickly create citations and bibliographies using a citation management program. The session will cover: an introduction to EndNote, Refworks, Zotero and Mendeley; similarities and differences between different citation management programs; how to choose the right citation manager for you; and how to install and use a citation manager.
Registration required.
You will receive the Zoom link for this webinar via email one hour before the event.

Fusion Book Club
2026-01-26 16:30 - 17:30
Join the Fusion Book Club on Monday, January 26th at 4:30pm (ET) online via Teams.
We’ll start with an open discussion about reading recommendations, then discuss this month’s book: The Six: the untold story of America’s first women astronauts.
Copies are available to borrow from the library in e, audio, and print formats.
All are welcome!

Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-01-27 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-03 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.

CV/LinkedIn/Resume CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-01-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-03 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.

COE Global Co-op Info Session
2026-01-27 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
This is a virtual information session hosted by the College of Engineering Global Co-op Team.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/97929114082
Meeting ID: 979 2911 4082
We will focus on searching for co-ops abroad for the Fall 2026 semester or later.

Have you ever thought about doing co-op in another country?
Would you like to learn more about available co-op opportunities, or creating your own opportunities abroad?
Are you curious about the logistics associated with a global co-op?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we hope you’ll attend so that we can introduce you to the search process and provide you with some important resources.
These info sessions are a great opportunity to connect with the COE Global Co-op Team and students who have participated in global co-op in past semesters. If you have questions or would like more information, please find our contact information below.
Please register on the NUworks Calendar.
Sally Conant, s.conant@northeastern.edu
Kristina Hubbard, k.hubbard@northeastern.edu
We look forward to meeting you!

Getting Started with Mendeley
2026-01-28 13:00 - 14:00
Are you interested in learning how to better organize your PDFs and research sources? Using Mendeley is a citation management tool that can help you become more organized and efficient throughout the research process: from when you first begin to explore your topic to when you are adding citations to your paper. In this online session, you will learn how to download Mendeley and set up an account, organize your research sources and PDFs, annotate PDFs, and create in-text citations and bibliographies.
Registration required.
You will receive the Zoom link for this webinar via email one hour before the event.
Related LibGuide: Mendeley

Oral Presentations: CommLab Drop-In Workshops
2026-01-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-05 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.

Getting Started with EndNote
2026-01-29 13:00 - 14:00
Learn how you can use the citation management tool EndNote to save and organize references from databases, web sources and the library catalog, and to quickly create citations and bibliographies while you write.
Note: use of Northeastern’s institutional EndNote subscription requires a Northeastern or NCH London username and password. This workshop is not open to non-Northeastern users.
Registration required.
You will receive the Zoom link for this webinar one hour before the event.
Related LibGuide: EndNote

Intro to Quantum Seminar for the Northeastern Community
2026-01-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-04 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

Harvard WeCODE Conference
2026-02-01 - 2026-02-02
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 WeCODE Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the conference from February 1st-2nd. We look forward to meeting you there!

Creating and Delivering Impactful Posters and Presentations: A CommLab Workshop Series
2026-02-02 10:00 - 11:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/95011040922?pwd=[REDACTED]
From concept to creation to presentation, your poster is a tool to convey your research and projects. By attending this workshop series, you will learn and hone valuable skills to engage your audience with a clear and distinct poster. Whether this is your first poster submission, or you are a seasoned poster presenter, you will learn valuable tips and tricks at each of the four steps in the poster process. If you miss the event, view the video through our Team Video Link.
Zoom Link,

Monday, February 2nd, 10-11 am: Designing Poster Narratives
Monday, February 9th, 10-11 am: Crafting Posters with Visual Impact
Tuesday, February 17th, 10-11 am: Delivering an Impactful Poster Pitch: Strategies for Engaging Your Audience

ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Eric Zimmerer
2026-02-02 13:00 - 15:00 | 333 CSC, 360 Huntington Ave, 333 CSC, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Name:
Eric Zimmerer
Title:
Rechargeable alkaline Zn-MnO₂ batteries for grid-scale energy storage
Date:
02/02/2026
Time:
1:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Joshua Gallaway (Advisor)
Prof. Hannah Sayre
Lu Ma
Prof. Magda Barecka
Location:
333 Curry Student Center
Abstract:
Grid-scale batteries enable the integration of renewable energy from intermittent sources and level demand on power plants, but recent installations have been almost exclusively lithium-ion. Aqueous batteries, such as the ubiquitous primary alkaline Zn-MnO₂ battery, are free from the flammability, toxicity, and supply chain concerns that surround lithium. Rechargeable alkaline Zn-MnO₂ batteries currently rely on a low depth of discharge (DOD) of both the MnO₂ cathode and Zn anode, however, worsening their economics.
Detailed in this work are developments to the mechanistic understanding and electrochemical performance of rechargeable alkaline MnO₂ cathodes cycling their full capacity of two electrons per Mn atom. During cycling the cathode undergoes intercalation and dissolution-precipitation type reactions involving disordered species, making characterization difficult. Furthermore, MnO₂ cathodes need to be modified with Bi to cycle reversibly, but the mechanism through which Bi makes MnO₂ rechargeable is not well defined.
An interfacial region of disordered β-MnOOH is identified for the first time and found to be stabilized by Bi using operando extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and post-mortem selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Furthermore, irreversible Mn₃O₄ formation is proven not to occur in Bi-modified alkaline MnO₂ electrodes using in-situ Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD). An alternative degradation mechanism is investigated through characterization of Bi-doped MnO₂. Finally, a cell with decoupled catholyte and anolyte is designed to prevent zinc poisoning of the MnO₂ cathode.

Eric Zimmerer is a member of the Analysis of Complex Electrochemical Systems (ACES) lab led by advisor Professor Joshua Gallaway. In February 2026, Eric will defend his Ph.D. thesis on the development of low-cost and sustainable batteries for grid-scale energy storage. While at Northeastern, Eric served as lab safety officer, treasurer for the Graduate Student Council, and a mentor for undergraduate researchers. During his time at Northeastern, Eric specialized in the development and characterization of aqueous battery chemistries. Specifically, he used synchrotron characterization techniques, performed at Brookhaven and Argonne National Laboratories to characterize disordered structures present during battery cycling and to characterize the materials inside of sealed batteries under compression. After graduating, Eric hopes to work in battery research in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Getting Started with Zotero
2026-02-03 13:00 - 14:00
Learn how to use Zotero to increase your efficiency. Zotero is a free, open-source citation management tool that lets you quickly create bibliographies and in-text citations in your chosen reference style. This online session will cover: how to install Zotero, how to export references from a database to Zotero, how to create groups to organize your research information, how to create an online account, and how to use Zotero with Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
Registration required.
You will receive the Zoom link for this webinar via email one hour before the event.
Related LibGuide: Zotero

INSI Industry Forum Virtual Fireside Chat
2026-02-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems Industry Forum
Date: February 3, 2026
Time: 2:00–3:00 PM EST (11:00 AM–12:00 PM PST)
Format: Virtual Fireside Chat
Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/4xEKEjNvz5A?feature=share
Speaker:
Greg Waters
CEO & Co-Founder, MatrixSpace
Host:
Ted Werth
Executive in Residence, Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems
Northeastern University
About the Event
Join the Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems for an engaging Industry Forum fireside chat with Greg Waters, CEO and Co-Founder of MatrixSpace. Greg will share his journey from advanced technical research to launching a successful technology company, offering candid insights into commercialization, entrepreneurship, and translating innovation into real-world impact.
Designed for researchers working in Wireless IoT and intelligent networked systems—including faculty, postdoctoral scholars, PhD students, and graduate researchers—this session will explore what it takes to move ideas from the lab to the marketplace. Attendees will gain practical perspectives on spinouts, industry engagement, and the challenges and opportunities of building companies around deep technology.
Who Should Attend:
Researchers, students, and innovators interested in entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and industry pathways for intelligent networked systems research.

Chemical Engineering Spring Seminar Series: Wilson Wong
2026-02-04 12:00 - 13:00
Engineering Vaccines, Cell and Gene Therapies Using Synthetic Biology
Location: 300 Richards Hall
Abstract: In this seminar, I will share with you some of the work that my trainees and colleagues have done on using synthetic biology in various areas, such as foundational circuit engineering, cellular immunotherapy, and vaccines. I will discuss our work on improving the specificity and safety of CART cell therapy against cancer using synthetic biology and biomaterials. I will also share our recent discovery on engineering self-amplifying RNA with reduced innate immune response and improved protein expression, leading to a highly potent COVID-19 vaccine as demonstrated in a lethal live virus challenge in mice.

Dr. Wilson Wong is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and an Allen Distinguished Investigator at Boston University. He is an expert in immune cell engineering and synthetic biology for therapeutic applications. Dr. Wong’s research has been published in numerous high-impact journals, including Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Cell, and PNAS. Dr. Wong has been recognized with multiple academic career awards, including membership in the AIMBE, NIH New Innovator Award, the ACS Synthetic Biology Young Investigator Award, the NSF CAREER Award, and the Allen Distinguished Investigator Award. He has co-founded three companies, with one in the clinical stage. Dr. Wong has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Wong completed his postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Professor Wendell Lim at the University of California, San Francisco.

Getting Started with RefWorks
2026-02-05 13:00 - 14:00
Are you tired of losing track of your research sources? Need help adding citations to your research papers? Attend this webinar to learn how to get started with RefWorks, an online citation management program that will allow you to collect and organize references and help you cite them in your papers. This session will cover:

how to create a RefWorks account
how to add references to your RefWorks library
how to organize and edit your library of references
how to add RefWorks citations to Word documents and Google Docs

Registration required.
You will receive the Zoom link for this webinar via email one hour before the event.
Related LibGuide: RefWorks

Love Data Week
2026-02-09 - 2026-02-13
Love Data Week is our annual university-wide event focused on building data & AI literacy across all disciplines and roles. This year’s event runs February 9-13, 2026, with the theme “Where’s the Data?”
Event Highlights:

Keynote: Ben Jones (Data Literacy LLC) presenting “Building Data & AI Literacy” on Monday, February 9, 1-2 PM EST
Two concurrent tracks of sessions daily (from approximately 10 AM – 5 PM EST)
Presentations and workshops on a wide range of topics including data visualization, research methods, AI applications, data management, evidence-based decision making, and much more
Content designed for all experience levels and disciplines
Interactive formats emphasizing active participation
New Data & AI Literacy in Action digital badge available for participants who attend sessions and contribute to our community of practice

While the official theme focuses on finding and accessing data, our 39 sessions cover the full spectrum of data & AI literacy topics relevant to faculty and staff across all departments.
Registration details and the full schedule
