Kiernan O’Boyle, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, will defend their dissertation titled “Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Energy Storage and Biomedical Applications.” Their advisor, Dr. Jonghyun Park is an professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering. The dissertation abstract is provided below.

Advancements in both energy and health sectors are essential for addressing pressing global challenges, including rapidly rising electricity costs, increasing global energy demand, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. If not addressed promptly, these challenges threaten both economic stability and human well-being. Innovation is therefore required across three complementary domains: (1) materials, (2) manufacturing, and (3) modeling. Advancements in materials enable higher-performing systems. In manufacturing, innovation can make these materials more scalable and cost-effective. Innovations in modeling help accelerate experimental optimization and improve overall understanding of systems and materials. Together, these areas provide a framework for developing practical, high-impact solutions to sustainability and health challenges. This research focuses on these three domains in the context of lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and advanced wound dressings. Collectively, these studies emphasize the importance of innovation in materials, manufacturing, and modeling to address global challenges in energy and health sectors, demonstrating the need for innovation across diverse applications.