Paul Antonick is a doctoral student at Rutgers who works with CMI Project Lead Richard Riman on the CMI thermodynamics team. Most of Antonick’s work is on generating new thermodynamic data to improve chemical equilibrium software, which is made by CMI Team member OLI Systems, or using thermodynamic data to analyze chemical reactions relevant to CMI goals.
“Specifically I have focused on rare earth elements, either for their extraction from natural resources or conversion to more valuable products,” Antonick says. “The Riman group is focused on sustainability and most of our other group members work on carbon negative technologies for ceramics production with a focus on cement.”
Antonick’s thesis work combines these two areas and includes making magnet composites. He is an author on two CMI publications, and has drafted more. He earned an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at Rutgers, then started a doctoral program in Materials Science and Engineering. “I decided to stay here for graduate school because I appreciated Dr. Riman's focus on commercialization in his research group,” he says. “This way there is more promise to see things I work on actually implemented in the world outside academia.”
Antonick plans to graduate in 2024. When he finds free time during graduate school, he enjoys rock climbing. He plays several musical instruments almost every day.