Brad Chmelka

Bradley F. Chmelka, Ph.D.

  • Doctor of Philosophy, 1990

  • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

  • Dissertation: Distribution of Metal and Adsorbed Guest Species in Zeolites

  • Research advisors: Prof. Clayton J. Radke, Prof. Eugene E. Petersen 

  • Bachelor of Science, 1982;  Summa Cum Laude

  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Major Research Interests

Correlation of macroscopic material properties and function with atomic-scale compositions, structures and dynamics, particularly in heterogeneous solids for energy and environmental applications. Syntheses and characterization of self-assembled nano- and mesostructured inorganic-organic materials for catalysis, separations, structural, electrochemical, and opto-electronic applications. Development and application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods for characterizing and understanding the influences of molecular compositions, structures, and dynamics on the adsorption, transport, reaction, opto-electronic, or mechanical properties of new solid-state materials.

Professional Experience

July, 2016 – present     

  • Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCSB

July, 1999 – June, 2016 

  • Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

July, 1995 – June, 1999    

  • Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Univ. California, Santa Barbara

April, 1992 – July, 1995

  • Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Univ. California, Santa Barbara

1991 – 1992

  • NSF-NATO Post-doctoral Fellow
  • Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz, Germany, Laboratory of Professor Hans W. Spiess
  • Research:  Analyses of molecular structures and dynamics of polymeric solids by solid-state NMR

1990 – 1991    

  • NSF Division of Chemistry Post-doctoral Fellow
  • University of California, Berkeley, Laboratory of Professor Alexander Pines
  • Research:  Development of NMR methods for the study of quadrupolar nuclei in inorganic solids

1982 – 1984

  • Unocal Corporation, Parachute Creek Shale Oil Project,  Colorado
  • Position:  Startup Engineer; first commercial U.S. shale oil facility

Honors and Recognitions

  • 2017: Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA)
  • 2016: Braskem Award, Materials Science & Engineering Division, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  • 2015: Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA)
  • 2013: Doctor Honoris Causa, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • 2000-01: Defense Science Study Group, Institute for Defense Analysis
  • 1996: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Award
  • 1993: David and Lucile Packard Foundation Award
  • 1993: Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar Award.
  • 1992: New Young Investigator Award, NSF Division of Materials Research
  • 1989: NSF Division of Chemistry Post-doctoral Fellowship Award
  • 1989: NSF-NATO Post-doctoral Fellowship Award

Visiting Professorships

  • 2017 Professeur Invité, École Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 2012-13 Professeur Invité, École Normale Supériore, Lyon, France
  • 2012 Professeur Invité, Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles, Paris, France
  • 2011 Visiting Professor, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
  • 2009 Visiting Professor, Laboratoire des Agrégats Moléculaires, Université Montpellier II, France
  • 2006 Meyerhoff Visiting Professorship, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
  • 2006 Chalmers Jubilee Visiting Professorship, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • 2005 Visiting Professor, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
  • 2004-09 Visiting Professor, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
  • 1999 Visiting Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain
  • 1996-98, 2003 Professeur Invité, Université of Paris, Jussieu, France

Professional Service

  • 2022-present, Editorial Board, Progress in NMR Spectroscopy
  • 2015-present, Co-Director, Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, UCSB-MIT-Caltech ($10 million/year)
  • 2021-present Vice-President, International Mesostructured Materials Association
  • 2019-present International Scientific Advisory Board, FibRe program, Chalmers-KTH, Sweden
  • 2019-2020 Associate Dean of Academic Personnel, UCSB College of Engineering
  • 2018 External Evaluation Committee, Weizmann Inst. of Science, Israel, Depts. of Material Science and Chemistry 
  • 2018 Co-organizer, 10th International Mesostructured Materials Symposium, UCLA
  • 2017-2020, External Oversight Committee, U.K. High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Warwick, U.K.
  • 2015 External Reviewer, U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, Los Alamos National Lab
  • 2012-2018, Executive Committee, Experimental NMR Conference
  • 2012-2015, UCSB Committee on Academic Personnel, Vice-Chair 2013-14, Chair 2014-15
  • 2011-2020, Technical Advisory Board, AkzoNobel, Performance Chemicals Division, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • 2010-2016, Scientific Advisory Board, Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz, Germany
  • 2007-2011 External Advisory Council, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe
  • 2006-2011 Editorial Advisory Board, Chemistry of Materials