Current position

Postdoctoral Researcher, Quantum Simulations Group - Materials Science Division

Research interests

His research focuses on applying a multifaceted set of advanced classical molecular dynamics simulation techniques and rare event simulation methods to understand equilibrium and dynamic properties in aqueous and interfacial systems, with the overarching goal of enabling a predictive understanding of the reactive processes that govern ion association and nucleation mechanisms for energy conversion and storage applications, materials engineering at extreme conditions, and geochemically relevant systems.

Subject Matter Expertise

Energy Storage, Enhanced sampling and rare event theories, Large Scale MD, Nucleation, Thermodynamics and kinetics in aqueous solutions and at interfaces, Force field/Machine learning interatomic potential development.

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 2022

M.S in Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 2017

Selected publications

For a full list, see: Google Scholar | ORCID

Weitzner, S.E., Wang, B., Rampal, N., Jeong, W., Yuan, S., Zhang, S., Bucci, G., Adelstein, N., Yan, S., Marschilok, A.C. and Wan, L.F., 2025. Cross-Scale Modeling and Experimental Integration for Advancing Cathode Electrolyte Interphase Studies in High Energy Density Lithium-Ion Batteries. Energy Storage Materials, p.104368.

Kitsu Iglesias, L., Marks, S.D., Rampal, N., Antonio, E.N., de Ferreira de Menezes, R., Zhang, L., Olds, D., Weitzner, S.E., Sprenger, K.G., Wan, L.F. and Toney, M.F., 2025. Microstructure‐Dependent Sodium Storage Mechanisms in Hard Carbon Anodes. Small, p.2505561.

Yuan, K., Rampal, N., Adapa, S., Evans, B.R., Bracco, J.N., Boebinger, M.G., Stack, A.G. and Weber, J., 2024. Iron Impurity Impairs the CO2 Capture Performance of MgO: Insights from Microscopy and Machine Learning Molecular Dynamics. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 16(46), pp.64233-64243.

Rampal, N.*, Weitzner, S.E., Cho, S., Orme, C.A., Worsley, M.A. and Wan, L.F., 2024. Structural and transport properties of battery electrolytes at sub-zero temperatures. Energy & Environmental Science, 17(20), pp.7691-7698.

Butreddy, P.*, Heo, J.*, Rampal, N.*, Liu, T., Liu, L., Smith, W., Zhang, X., Prange, M.P., Legg, B.A., Schenter, G.K. and De Yoreo, J.J., 2024. Ion Correlations Decrease Particle Aggregation Rate by Increasing Hydration Forces at Interfaces. ACS nano, 18(38), pp.26047-26055.

Yang, P.*, Rampal, N., Weber, J., Bracco, J.N., Fenter, P., Stack, A.G. and Lee, S.S., 2022. Synergistic Enhancement of Lead and Selenate Uptake at the Barite (001)–Water Interface. Environmental Science & Technology, 56(23), pp.16801-16810.

Yuan, K., Rampal, N., Irle, S., Criscenti, L.J., Lee, S.S., Adapa, S. and Stack, A.G., 2024. Variations in proton transfer pathways and energetics on pristine and defect-rich quartz surfaces in water: Insights into the bimodal acidities of quartz. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 666, pp.232-243.

Liu, T., Rampal, N., Nakouzi, E., Legg, B.A., Chun, J., Liu, L., Schenter, G.K., De Yoreo, J.J., Anovitz, L.M. and Stack, A.G., 2024. Molecular Mechanisms of Sorbed Ion Effects during Boehmite Particle Aggregation. Langmuir, 40(17), pp.8791-8805.

Rampal, N., Wang, H.W., Brady, A.B., Borreguero, J.M., Biriukov, D., Mamontov, E. and Stack, A.G., 2024. Testing the hypothesis that solvent exchange limits the rates of calcite growth and dissolution. RSC advances, 14(22), pp.15743-15754.