Charles Dismukes
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
Research at Rutgers
The Backbone of a Great State University
Breakthroughs in knowledge—technology, the humanities, or health care—are the essence of a top research university. At Rutgers, we have a strong track record of discovery—from finding a cure for tuberculosis to developing eco-friendly building materials, just to name a few.
$969.5 Million
in Research Grants and Sponsored Programs
2024 data
Top 100
World’s most innovative universities
Reuters
1,390
Active issued worldwide patents
2024 data
Fueling America’s R&D Engine
The results of Rutgers research impact our quality of life, promote prosperity, and enrich humanity in so many ways—from detecting nuclear threats and crime to creating the world’s biggest network of ocean data to exploring the central nervous system.
Record-Breaking Research Impact
Rutgers research had a banner year in FY24, including a $969.5M received in sponsored award revenue.
The Rutgers Research and Innovation Annual Impact Report recaps the record year and highlights notable faculty accomplishments across many fields of study. In addition to the record award revenue, Rutgers researchers are showcasing their impact on a global scale with new licensing agreements and technology partnerships that help solve real-world problems.
The Office for Research
The Office for Research partners with researchers to provide a pipeline of services and resources to foster innovation that transforms lives, improves communities, and advances society.
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Rutgers University–New Brunswick, in conjunction with Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Big Ten Academic Alliance—networks that cultivate knowledge sharing and access to research resources.
Rutgers University–Newark
In and of the city of Newark, Rutgers engages civic-minded changemakers and fosters experiential learning. The university is rated a Doctoral University: High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education.
Rutgers University–Camden
With a classification as a Doctoral University: High Research Activity by Carnegie, Rutgers University–Camden fosters a dynamic faculty and student research environment with support in finding funding and collaboration.
Rutgers Health
Rutgers people across scores of disciplines engage in research that focuses on human health. It’s one of the advantages of a large research university: because we study, teach, and practice all aspects of health care, the latest advances and discoveries inform our treatment of patients.
A Reputation for Excellence
Starting from an early emphasis on agriculture and the mechanical arts related to the university’s land-grant mission, Rutgers research has expanded into a leading hub for respected researchers tackling society's largest challenges.
The achievements of our award-winning faculty drive Rutgers’ world-class reputation. They teach, discover, provide health care, innovate, mentor, and share their knowledge. Leaders in their fields, their everyday endeavors yield brilliant outcomes.
Fostering Inquiry and Innovation
Empowering Researchers
Support for Rutgers' vibrant research community is a priority throughout all stages of the research life cycle—from finding funding to commercialization.
Core Facilities
Researchers, students, and partners have access to state-of-the-art scientific instruments, tools, and laboratories.
Collaborate with Rutgers
Connect with faculty across Rutgers’ research network to access the full capabilities of our experts, facilities, and reputation in STEM fields.
Research Commercialization
Staffed by scientists and IP experts with industry experience, the Rutgers Technology Transfer team is dedicated to transforming research at Rutgers into products, services, and partnerships for the public good.
Research Centers and Institutes
In clinics and centers, in labs and libraries, in the field and across the globe, our faculty and students create knowledge, advance economic progress, improve lives, and enrich our humanity. Take a look at some of the Rutgers centers and institutes making an impact.
Researcher Spotlight
Researcher Spotlight
Saving the Planet
Charles Dismukes' quest is saving life on the planet threatened by human overpopulation and excessive consumption. Dismukes is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Rutgers University on the faculties of the Chemistry & Chemical Biology Department and the Waksman Institute of Microbiology. He is an energy scientist who has devoted his career to studying and perfecting the process of artificial photosynthesis. Field crops rely upon natural photosynthesis which has low energy efficiency. Less than 1% of the incident solar energy is stored in the biomass and further losses occur upon conversion to biofuels and bioproducts. Carbon emissions (CO2) from the biofuel industry are huge and harmful to both life and the environment.
Research on Renewable Energy
His research uses nature’s enzymes as blueprints to learn the design principles, then applies that to synthesize abiotic electrocatalysts. These use renewable electricity as the direct power source instead of heat to activate electrocatalysts that convert inert carbon dioxide and water molecules to fuels and chemicals. This process is not only much more energy efficient, but also carbon negative and uses a fraction of the solar footprint of crops.
Why Is this Important?
If adopted to replace petrochemical and biomass sources of these feedstocks, it would have a positive benefit on the environment. Dismukes’ lab has developed an electrocatalyst that can synthesize ethylene glycol – one of the two main monomers used to make polyesters and PET (plastic bottles). Rutgers has patented some of this research which became the basis for a startup company, RenewCo2 LLC, which Dismukes co-founded in 2018 with a former postdoctoral and graduate student, thanks in part to a TechAdvance grant through Innovation Ventures. With continued success of this technology and scale up, agriculture can be used exclusively for growing essential food or returned to the wild for the health of the planet.
Accomplished
In addition to establishing a successful startup, Charles Dismukes is also a member of the graduate training faculties of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Microbiology and Biochemistry. He teaches in the School of Arts and Sciences and in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. He received the 2021 Rutgers Provost & Chancellor Award for Pioneering Research.
