Dr. Rigoberto Advincula
Governor’s Chair Professor
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee, USA
AI/ML Driven High-Performance Materials and Advanced Filtration and Separations
Speaker Bio
Dr. Rigoberto Advincula is a Governor’s Chair Professor of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He is also a Group Leader at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), ORNL. His areas of expertise include organic and polymer chemistry, nanomaterials, flow chemistry and reaction engineering, additive manufacturing, and biomaterials. He has led major projects, including a machine learning (ML)- enabled flow chemistry lab at ORNL and advanced nanocomposite manufacturing with the DOE. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS), Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Netzsch NATAS 2023 Fellow. He is the recipient of the AFS-FILTCON Frank Thiller Award in 2026. In 2024, he received the International Prize of the Society of Polymer Science of Japan (SPSJ). He has been appointed to the World Economic Forum Advanced Materials Council. He has held several visiting Professor positions, including Waseda University in Japan and the Max Planck Institute for Polymers (MPI-P) Research in Germany. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida and held postdoctoral positions at the MPI-P and Stanford University. He is passionate in mentoring students and establishing interdisciplinary STEM programs.
Presentation time
December 9, 2026
10:40 AM to 11:50 AM EST
Abstract
AI/ML has transformed the way we optimize processes and conduct high-throughput science, alongside self-driving laboratories (SDLs) and data analytics. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been involved in membrane development and testing for many industries, including leadership with the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI). This talk will highlight advanced materials and manufacturing, including new experimental methods and applications that use AI/ML-driven SDLs for new materials development. Liquid-phase separations and pervaporation (liquid-to-gas) are essential, as are new polymer resins.
The talk will describe efforts in high-performance polymer membranes, filters, and engineered nanoscale materials to achieve higher recovery or separations. We will also describe funding and collaborative opportunities with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Together with the Genesis Mission and the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). There is interest in bio-based materials and also operations under extreme environments.