This degree involves research in transport phenomena in complex systems, materials, biofilms, biochemical transformation, biotechnology, remediation of hazardous wastes, and environmental engineering. Research topics include extremophilic bioprocessing, in situ biocatalyzed heavy metal biotransformations in natural and engineered biological systems, biomaterials, biorheology, colloidal system dynamics, durability of materials, surface interactions, membrane materials, composite materials, separations, metabolic engineering, metabolic systems analysis, biofuels processing .

Some departmental research is conducted in collaboration with the Center for Biofilm Engineering, the Thermal Biology Institute and MSU's Surface Science Program. Research also includes materials science and engineering for energy applications including: high temperature corrosion and corrosion protection, advanced physical vapor deposition (PVD) technologies, and sustainable energy.