Dr. Zofchak joined Rice University as an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2026. He earned B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, where he was a Schreyer Scholar, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. His doctoral research focused on correlating the macroscopic transport properties of ions in polymer membranes to molecular-scale phenomena by combining experimental transport characterization with molecular dynamics simulations. He then completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on novel ionomers for electrochemical energy devices and membrane electrode assembly fabrication for high-performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
WEBSITE(S)| Zofchak Research Group
Research Areas
Dr. Zofchak’s research focuses on elucidating how polymer chemistry and structure dictate the transport of ions and small molecules in soft materials. Through studies of polymer membranes and ionomers, his group seeks to uncover the physical principles governing rapid and selective transport—phenomena that ultimately limit device-level performance in separation and electrochemical energy technologies. By integrating macroscopic transport measurements, spectroscopy, molecular simulations, and modeling, his group develops a comprehensive understanding of transport in polymers that guides the rational design of new materials for improved separation, energy storage and generation, and resource recovery technologies.
Education
2024-2025 Postdoc, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2023 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin 2019 B.S., Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University 2019 B.S., Mate