Polymer Membrane Research at UVA
The Geise research group seeks to develop structure/property/processing relationships to guide polymeric materials design for membrane-based liquid separation and energy applications by understanding the influence of nano- and molecular-scale interactions and phenomena on mass transfer and system-level performance.
We are based in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
Geise Group Research:
Water-Energy Nexus
Our research focuses on experimental studies aimed at solving fundamental and practical problems related to water and ion transport through polymers that could be used as membranes in a variety of water and energy applications. Providing sustainable and economic supplies of purified water and clean energy solutions is a critical global challenge for the future, and polymer membranes will play a key role in these efforts.
We seek to rationally tailor and design polymers at the molecular level and process those polymers to engineer advanced membrane materials that will expand access to clean water and enhance the use of renewable energy sources.
Water Purification for a Thirsty World
Within the next 10 years, the United Nations predicts that nearly two-thirds of the world’s population may find themselves living in a water stressed area.
Today, the vast majority of desalination processes are performed using polymer-based membranes. Improved membranes are needed to meet the challenges of economically and sustainably purifying increasingly saline and contaminated water sources around the globe.
Clean and Renewable Energy
to Light our Future
Energy demand around the globe is projected to increase by more than 50% over the next 35 years, and sustainable, low-carbon footprint energy resources are needed to meet this increasing energy demand.
Technologies such as large-scale flow batteries, reverse electrodialysis, and capacitive mixing rely on polymer membranes to regulate ion transport. Improved membrane selectivity will enable advances in renewable energy storage and generation technologies.
Publications
Join the Geise Research Group
Prospective graduate students interested in joining the group should indicate their interest when applying for admission to the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
Undergraduate students interested in research opportunities should express interest by contacting Prof. Geise directly. Please be prepared to provide copies of your most recent resume and unofficial transcript.
Latest News from the Geise Research Group
November 2025
Geise Research Group alum, Dr. Sean Bannon (second from the right in the photo), won 2nd place for his presentation in the Area 8A Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research session at the 2025 AIChE Annual Meeting in Boston. Sean was selected to deliver a presentation during the invitation-only session on his research related to Engineering Ion Sorption in Neutral Polymers for Desalination Applications.
November 2025
Prof. Geise gave an invited lecture on Characterizing and Modeling Ion Partitioning in Charged Polymers at the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry workshop on Polymers for Fuel Cells, Energy Storage, and Conversion. Graduate student Charlie Leroux and group alum Dr. Sean Bannon presented their research at the 248th ECS Meeting and the 2025 AIChE Annual Meeting, respectively.
October 2025
The Geise Research Group has been busy publishing research results over the last few months:
Leroux published Selective Membrane for Non-Aqueous Electrochemical Flow Cells in Advanced Functional Materials.
Bannon, Tremblay, Morin, Leroux, and Phan published Characterizing hydrated polymers via dielectric relaxation spectroscopy: Connecting relative permittivity, state of water, and salt transport properties of sulfonated polysulfones in Macromolecules.
Saasi published Lithium Capture from Simulated Geothermal Brine via Chemical Reduction of Iron Phosphate in a Packed Bed Reactor in Separation and Purification Technology.
Bannon, Fetter, and D'Cunha published Engineering the water/salt sorption selectivity of polymers for desalination applications in ACS Macro Letters.
Bannon and Fetter (along with collaborator Slava Freger) published The influence of ion solvation and association interactions on mean ionic activity coefficients in neutral polymeric membranes in Macromolecules.
September 2025
Graduate student Amin Tia Saasi presented his research, titled Lithium Capture from Simulated Geothermal Brine via ChemicalReduction of Iron Phosphate in a Packed Bed Reactor, at the 2025 CHEERS event run by the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Board and won second place for his presentation!
September 2025
Congratulations to graduate student Charlie Leroux on winning a travel award from the Electrochemical Society to attend and present at the 248th ECS Meeting in Chicago, IL. Charlie will present results on membranes for flow batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries.
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