A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute Moving to Camden

November 15, 2010 Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute, formed in 2002 to stimulate and coordinate research projects related to plasma and other modern high-energy engineering techniques, is moving to the Waterfront Technology Center at 200 Federal St. in Camden, N.J.

“The A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute expects to continuously grow and the move is the best option for our team. We need to capitalize on this opportunity and use this facility to help advance our research in the future of energy, medicine and the environment,” said Dr. Alexander Fridman, director of the Plasma Institute and John A. Nyheim Chair Professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics.

The Plasma Institute is focused on fundamental science and applications in three major directions:

• Plasma Energy Systems: plasma in fuel conversion, hydrogen production, green energy, and ignition and combustion control;
• Plasma Medicine: direct plasma treatment of wounds, burns, and diseases; plasma sterilization of medical instruments and hospital environments;
• Plasma Environmental Control: plasma in water cleaning, air treatment, material processing, and environmental control.

Construction of the 10,000-square-foot, specially-designed space was completed in October and the move from 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue on Drexel’s University City Main Campus is expected to take place in December. The Plasma Institute will occupy the fifth floor of the building, which also houses Applied Communications and Information Networking (ACIN), a Drexel business incubator.

A need for increased space and financial incentives are behind the move. The Plasma Institute is rapidly growing its energy, medicine and environmental applications. The Plasma Institute currently has 18 researchers and students on its staff and is planning to expand.

The institute is an active multidisciplinary organization involving 23 faculty members from six engineering departments working in close collaboration with Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and College of Medicine.