Welcome to Dr. Brandon Bukowski’s Research Page
I am dedicated to discovering new catalysts for a more sustainable future that benefits all.
Developing new technologies that responsibly and sustainably utilize conventional and emergent feedstocks is fundamental for meeting the energy needs of the future. I use computer modeling to identify new materials and understand how they can be engineered to address these pressing issues. Nanoporous solids are one type of material I am interested in because they have enormous potential to be efficient catalysts. The intrinsic complexity and number of design parameters in these materials make it necessary to develop rules that guide practical implementation.
Teaching and mentoring are at the forefront of my goal to enable a more sustainable and equitable future. Instilling the virtues of ethical research practices, rationalism, inclusion, and environmental stewardship to students and the public are necessary to cultivate new generations of technical leaders and future educators.
News
2021
July
I started as an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department! This web page will be updated or replaced with a new “Bukowski Group” website that is currently under construction.
March
The invited review I authored with Frerich Keil, Peter Ravikovitch, German Sastre, Randy Snurr, and Marc-Olivier Coppens was published in Adsorption. Titled “Connecting Theory and Simulation with Experiment for the Study of Diffusion in Nanoporous Solids”, the article spans 78 pages of detailed examples of how theory and simulation can be used to learn more about diffusion in all kinds of nanoporous materials.
February
My article titled “Gold Stability and Diffusion in the Au/TS-1 Catalyst” was published in J. Phys. Chem. C. This work was a true labor of love when I was at Purdue, and it was an absolute joy to work with Nick Delgass and think about these exciting ideas.
2020
November
I was invited to give a seminar for the Matminer series at NTU Singapore on Designing Microporous Catalysts that Enable Sustainable Chemical Transformations.
I had a great time sharing my doctoral and postdoctoral work at the annual AIChE conference. I also had the opportunity to co-chair a session for the first time (Microporous and Mesoporous Materials II: Organic Conversions).
August
I won a poster award at the 2020 Catalysis Club of Chicago Symposium for my postdoc work at Northwestern. Always great to spend time with the Midwest catalysis family!
My article with Rui and first collaboration with the wonderful Hupp group titled “Investigating the Process and Mechanism of Molecular Transport within a Representative Solvent-filled Metal-Organic Framework” has been published in the journal Langmuir.
July
A perspective on zeolite catalysis that I contributed to with Prof. Harris and Jason Bates titled “Opportunities in Catalysis over Metal-Zeotypes Enabled by Descriptions of Active Centers Beyond Their Binding Site” has been published in the journal ACS Catalysis.
June
My new co-first author paper with Jason Bates titled “Structure and solvation of confined water and water–ethanol clusters within microporous Brønsted acids and their effects on ethanol dehydration catalysis” has been published in the journal Chemical Science.
March
I received a postdoc travel award to attend the 17th International Congress on Catalysts in San Diego!