Robert Johnson (PhD, Chemistry Iowa State University) has over ten years of experience with various aspects related to biomass conversion technologies including solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, heterogeneous catalyst synthesis and characterization, reaction engineering, biomass thermochemical reactions, process and business development.  During his PhD, his research was funded through the NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable chemicals (CBiRC) where he developed advanced NMR techniques to characterize carbon catalyst materials. Additionally, Robert developed a unique synthesis platform to produce porous functionalized carbon materials using inexpensive precursors. 

Robert began his Post Doctorate work in December 2014, in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University where he developed chemical engineering tools to complement his NMR expertise.  During this time, Robert constructed high pressure condensed phase flow reactors, invented a synthesis technique to produce porous nanocomposite catalysts resistant to hydrothermal conditions, and developed a unique solid state NMR approach to investigate solid-liquid interfaces.  During Robert’s last year at Iowa State, he worked as the principle investigator for an early stage startup company to execute a STTR Phase I grant with technology to convert organic acids into functionalized aromatics. 

Following his tenure at ISU, Robert worked at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals as an assistant professor.  Robert left this position to move to Hawai‘i and started at UH Mānoa in the fall of 2018.