Personal profile

Personal profile

Prof. Paul V. Braun is the Director of the Materials Research Laboratory, the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and is a part-time faculty member of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The Braun group synthesizes and studies materials with unique optical, electrochemical, thermal, mechanical, and transport properties, properties that often emerge from the carefully crafted 3D nano- and mesoscale architectures of these materials. Recent priority research areas include materials for electrochemical energy storage, advanced optics, chemical sensing and the control of the transport of heat and matter, and self-healing and responsive materials.

Prof. Braun received his B.S. degree with distinction from Cornell University, and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Following a postdoctoral appointment at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, Prof. Braun joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1999. Prof. Braun has co-authored a book, about 350 peer-reviewed publications, been awarded multiple patents, and has co-founded four companies. 

Research Interests

Electrochemical energy storage; polymers; self-assembly; electronic materials; photonics

Professional Information

Our research program covers a wide range of materials science disciplines, with a general focus on the synthesis and characterization of materials with high degrees of functionality. Often these materials have carefully designed nano and microstructures which lead to the emergence of the desired function. Major recent areas of emphasis have included materials for electrochemical energy storage, advanced optics, polymer science, self-healing materials and the control of heat.

Honors & Awards

2023-24 Grainger Award for Excellence in Translational Research, University of Illinois

2022    Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (NAI)

2020    Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

2020    Awarded Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, University of Illinois

2018    Elected Fellow of the Materials Research Society

2017    Visiting Lecturer Award of the Chemistry Promotion Center, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan

2011    Awarded Ivan Racheff Professorship, University of Illinois

2011    Young Alumnus Award, University of Illinois Department of Materials Science and Engineering Alumni Board

Office Address

Materials Research Laboratory
University of Illinois
2015 MRL
104 S Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

Office Phone

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