Swain Research Group
Carbon Electrode Science for Health & Environment
Research in our group is interdisciplinary and spans several fields: physical and analytical electrochemistry, carbon material science, point-of-care medical diagnostics, and neuroanalytical chemistry. We conduct fundamental research to address key problems and technological needs in health and the environment. Our core science lies in the preparation, processing and application of multiple carbon materials including conducting diamond films and powders, nitrogen incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon films, and screen- and inkjet-printed graphitic carbon materials.
Our interdisciplinary research efforts have pioneered the development and application of advanced carbon electrode materials for fundamental studies of electron-transfer processes, sustainable electrosynthesis, and highly sensitive electrochemical sensing. Our laboratory is also developing innovative point-of-care diagnostic technologies for monitoring disease biomarkers and investigating neurotransmitter signaling in the gastrointestinal tract to better understand human health and disease. By integrating fundamental electrochemical science with practical applications in medicine, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing, our research is making significant contributions to analytical chemistry while addressing important societal challenges.
Students and postdoctoral scholars in the Swain Research Group benefit from a respectful, collaborative, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment that emphasizes scientific excellence, professional growth, and career development. Group members receive individualized mentoring tailored to their career aspirations while gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, advanced instrumentation, data analysis, scientific communication, and interdisciplinary problem solving. Trainees are encouraged to develop independence as researchers, publish their work, present their research findings at national and international conferences, and build collaborations across disciplines. The mentoring philosophy emphasizes integrity, rigor, and reproducibility in research, while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills that prepare graduates and postdoctoral scholars for successful careers in academia, national laboratories, industry, and government.