Steve Lustig
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Contact
- s.lustig@northeastern.edu
- 360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Office
- 321 ISEC
- 617.373.5900
Lab
- 376 ISEC
Research Focus
Design and manipulation of molecular/materials chemistry and structure for new property discovery, new functionality and technology development by combining theoretical and experimental methods; high performance computing, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, polymer physics, materials and biomolecular engineering
About
Joined the Chemical Engineering Department in Fall 2016.
Our work seeks to design and manipulate molecular/materials chemistry and structure for new property discovery, new functionality and technology development by combining theory, high performance computing and experimental methods. Our theoretical methods frequently involve quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, polymer physics, materials and biomolecular engineering. Our experimental methods frequently involve chemical synthesis, processing and characterizations: such as: microlithography, electrospinning, atomic force microscopy, spectroscopy, rheology and electroanalysis. We develop and implement powerful, multi-disciplinary tools to solve relevant problems with industry and national laboratories.
Our group research is described as three programs, each aimed at important societal problems addressed by new theory, computer simulation and experiments.
- COSMOdesign is an original paradigm to design new molecules, mixtures, materials and processes. Research further develops and applies this methodology in the design of (i) bioactive molecules with targeted physiological and environmental fate and (ii) environmentally safe refrigerants. Continued research is focused on improving the accuracy and broadening the applicability of direct design methods to (i) three dimensional docking, (ii) multi-scale mesoscopic dynamics and (iii) crystallization.
- Research on enzyme based air cathodes illustrates an important scientific opportunity to understand how to design practical nano-structured materials that deliver efficiently electrons and molecular reactants to the active centers of immobilized enzymes. Among many applications, this research will solve the remaining challenges toward enabling practical microbial fuel cells.
- Continued collaborations address why our antiballistic fibers break well below theoretical strength and what must be done to offer better protection. New materials are designed based on: understanding the molecular structure of liquid crystal polymer solutions in extensional flows, understanding the morphological defects that initiate failure and new synthesis paradigms for greater morphological perfection.
Education
- PhD, Purdue University, 1989
- MS, Purdue University, 1985
- BSChE with Distinction, University of Virginia, 1983
Honors & Awards
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers Industrial Research & Development Institute Award
- DuPont Central Research Accomplishment Award (9 awards)
- DuPont TechCon Award
- DuPont Materials Science and Engineering Accomplishment Award (3 awards)
- Phi Lambda Upsilon
- Sigma Xi
- Plastics Institute of America National Fellowship
- Purdue University Fellowship
Research Overview
Design and manipulation of molecular/materials chemistry and structure for new property discovery, new functionality and technology development by combining theoretical and experimental methods; high performance computing, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, polymer physics, materials and biomolecular engineering
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- S.R. Lustig, et al., Effectiveness of Common Fabrics to Block Aqueous Aerosols of Virus-like Nanoparticles, ACS Nano, 14, 2020, 7651-7658
- T.A. Stockdale, D.P. Cole, J.M. Staniszewski, M.R. Roenbeck, D. Papkov, S.R. Lustig, et al., Hierarchical Mechanisms of Lateral Interactions in High- Performance Fibers, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 12, 2020, 22256-22267
- S.R. Lustig, Speciation in Electrolytes Using the COSMO-RS Solution Model, Fluid Phase Equilibrium, 2020, 112717
- M.R. Roenbeck, J. Cline, V. Wu, M. Afshari, S. Kellner, P. Martin, J.D. Londono, L.E. Clinger, D. Reichert, S.R. Lustig, et al., Structure–Property Relationships of Aramid Fibers Via X-ray Scattering and Atomic Force Microscopy, Journal of Materials Science, 54, 2019, 6668–6683 (2019 Cahn Prize April finalist)
- M.R. Roenbeck, E.J. Sandoz-Rosado, J. Cline, V. Wu, P. Moy, M. Afshari, D. Reichert, S.R. Lustig, et al. Probing the Internal Structures of Kevlar® Fibers and Their Impacts on Mechanical Performance, Polymer, 128, 2017, 200-210
- J.S. Meth, S.R. Lustig, Polymer Interphase Structure Near Nanoscale Inclusions: Comparison Between Random Walk Theory and Experiment, Polymer, 51, 2010, 4259-4266
Feb 22, 2022
Advancing the Development of 2D Polymers
ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig was awarded a $275k grant by the Army Research Laboratory in continued funding for the development of novel chemical monomers and polymerization methods for 2D polymers.
Jan 03, 2022
Choosing the Best Mask with the Omicron Variant
CEE Assistant Professor Loretta Fernandez and ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig provide insights into what combination of materials and fits make the best face masks.
Sep 14, 2020
ChE Graduate Student Jiaming Xu Now Published in AIChE Journal
ChE PhD Graduate Student Jiaming Xu co-authored a paper with ChE Associate Professor Francisco Hung and Associate Professor Steve Lustig titled “Power generation from waste heat: Ionic liquid‐based absorption cycle versus organic Rankine cycle” which was published in the AIChE Journal.
Jul 30, 2020
Designing the Most Effective Face Masks
CEE Associate Professor Loretta Fernandez and Assistant Professor Amy Mueller are examining the best fit, while ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig is determining the best combinations of materials for the most effective mask to protect against COVID-19.
Jun 10, 2020
Effectiveness of Common Fabrics Against COVID
ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig and Professor Ming Su’s research on “Effectiveness of Common Fabrics to Block Aqueous Aerosols of Virus-like Nanoparticles” was published in the American Chemical Society journal.
Jun 12, 2018
The Modern Classroom
Instead of writing on a board, ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig projects equations he writes on his iPad Pro, allowing him to interact better with his students. Source: News @ Northeastern Steve Lustig is never going back to chalk. Several years ago, the associate professor of chemical engineering ditched the classroom staple in favor of […]
Nov 08, 2017
Michael Ploch Conducts Research at the Army Research Lab
Chemical Engineering PhD student and member of the Lustig Lab, Michael Ploch has begun a six-month research internship at the Army Research Lab (ARL) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. As part of Associate Professor Steve Lustig’s continued collaboration with the ARL, Ploch is currently studying the mechanics of Kevlar® fibers. The first part of Ploch’s project […]
Apr 24, 2017
Prof. Steve Lustig to speak at TEXPO
Information Technology Services will host the third annual Teaching & Technology Expo (TEXPO) on April 25, 2017. TEXPO celebrates how technology can support teaching, learning, and research. Prof. Steve Lustig will speak during a panel titled “Digital Presentation Tools for Natural Interactions”. Moderator John Patota from ITS will lead an engaging discussion over different options […]
Apr 01, 2017
Prof. Steve Lustig to speak at TEXPO
ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig will speak during a panel titled “Digital Presentation Tools for Natural Interactions” at the third annual Teaching & Technology Expo (TEXPO).
Sep 01, 2016
New Faculty Spotlight: Steve Lustig
Steve Lustig joins the Chemical Engineering department in Fall 2016 as an Associate Professor.