Knight Research Scholars Program Project PhyroProtect: Material Science Exploration to Combat Forest Fires

Learn about this research project, meet the faculty and student researchers, review participation expectations, and check current availability.

Project Availability

Team Size
1 team member
Open Spots
1 spot open
Affiliations
College of Sciences
Semester
Fall 2026
Team Leader
Faculty Mentor
  • Swadeshmukul Santra, PhD

Team Member Qualifications

Students with a background in materials science, chemistry, or engineering will be preferred.

Description

Wildfires pose an increasing threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and communities, creating a need for innovative materials that can reduce the flammability of vegetation and limit fire spread.

PhyroProtect is a materials science research project focused on investigating a novel formulation designed to reduce the flammability of plant materials. Our team will evaluate the material's ability to delay ignition, reduce flame propagation, and improve the fire resistance of treated vegetation.

Students involved in this project will gain hands-on experience in materials science, experimental design, formulation development, and laboratory testing. Research will include evaluating material properties, studying interactions with plant surfaces, and comparing the flammability of treated and untreated plant samples under controlled conditions.