We engineer membrane interfaces where molecular separation, chemical reaction and switchable transport happen in the same place.
We engineer membrane interfaces where molecular separation, chemical reaction and switchable transport happen in the same place.
ABOUT THE LAB
The RAMP Lab designs interfaces where separation and chemical reaction happen together, and where transport can be switched by redox state, applied potential or the surrounding chemistry. The goal is separation processes that use less energy and fewer chemical inputs than running each step on its own.
Chemical separations account for a large share of industrial energy use, and they struggle with complex mixtures, low selectivity and dilute product streams. Coupling reaction and separation on one platform attacks those bottlenecks directly.
01 Metal–organic frameworks and other porous materials
02 Nanozymes, photocatalysts and electrocatalysts
03 Polymer, inorganic and hybrid membranes
04 Redox- and potential-gated transport
RESEARCH
Selective gas transport paired with catalytic and electrochemical reactions that turn CO₂ into chemicals and fuels.
Fouling-resistant, selective interfaces for purification, desalination and removal of emerging contaminants.
Chemically and electrochemically responsive membranes that pull critical metals out of complex streams.
Biological transport mechanisms put to work for high-selectivity separations in biomanufacturing.
Chemical separations are among the most energy-intensive and challenging operations in industry, often limited by complex mixtures, low selectivity, and dilute product streams. Reactive and adaptive membranes address these bottlenecks by coupling reaction and separation within a single platform, enabling more efficient, sustainable, and versatile chemical processes.
NATURE ENERGY · 2021
Overcoming humidity-induced swelling of graphene oxide-based hydrogen membranes using charge-compensating nanodiamonds
NATURE ENERGY · 2017
Enhanced selectivity in mixed matrix membranes for CO₂ capture through efficient dispersion of amine-functionalized MOF nanoparticles
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE · 2019
Rational tuning of zirconium metal–organic framework membranes for hydrogen purification
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS · 2023
Nanobiomineralization of carbon dioxide by molecularly engineered metal–histidine complex nanozymes
May 20, 2026 Glea Azizi joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher.
Feb 20, 2026 Amir Younger joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher.
Dec 1, 2025 Dr. Ghalei was appointed joint faculty in NJIT's Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Nov 3, 2025 Dr. Ghalei presented "Innovative Lipid Carriers for Biomimetic Desalination Membranes" at the AIChE Annual Meeting in Boston.
Ph.D. students, undergraduate researchers and summer interns from community colleges and high schools. If membrane materials and separations excite you, we'd like to hear from you. The Join Us page has open positions and how to apply.