Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Dr. Vasquez-Guardado's technical research focuses on designing advanced nanocomposite materials, mainly using magnetic nanoparticles, for water purification, biological applications and bacteria detection and eradication. Currently, he is working on the encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles using biocompatible and electrically responsive polymers for drug delivery applications, the preparation of disinfectant nanomaterials for the elimination of Listeria monocytogenes and the fabrication of magnetic gels for removing toxins and pollutants from water. Dr. Vasquez-Guardado collaborates with several researchers and faculty at UD and across the U.S.

Selected Publications

For a complete list of publications, please visit this Google Scholar link.

• Vasquez, E. S., DeWitt, M., West, Z., & Elsass, M. E. (2020). Impact of team formation approach on teamwork effectiveness and performance in an upper-level undergraduate chemical engineering laboratory course. Special Issue: Teamwork Assessment in Engineering Education, International Journal of Engineering Education, 36(1B), 491-501.
• Vasquez, E. S., Phren, E. M., & Walters, K. B. (2019). Assessing magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle properties under different thermal treatments. J. of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. doi:10.1007/s10973-019-09195-4.
• Karim, F., Vasquez, E. S., Sun, Y., & Zhao, C. (2019). Optothermal microbubble assisted manufacturing of nanogap-rich structures for active chemical sensing. Nanoscale, 11, 20589-20597.
• Busch, R. T., Karim, F., Weis, J., Sun, Y., Zhao, C., & Vasquez, E. S. (2019). Optimization and structural stability of gold nanoparticle-antibody bioconjugates. ACS Omega, 4(12), 15269-15279.
• Roy, J. K., Vasquez, E. S., Pinto, H. P., Kumari, S., Walters, K. B., & Leszczynski, J. (2019). Computational and experimental approach to understanding the structural interplay of self-assembled end-terminated alkanethiolates on gold surfaces. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21, 23320-23328. [Note: Inside cover of the journal and highlighted as 2019 PCCP hot articles]
• Al-Ajrash, S. M. N., Lafdi, K., Vasquez, E. S., Chinesta, F., & Le Coustumer, P. (2018). Experimental and numerical investigation of the silicon particle distribution in electrospun nanofibers. Langmuir, 34(24), 7147-7152. [IF = 3.789 / 6/ N/A]
• Karim, F., Vasquez, E. S., & Zhao, C. (2018). Fabricated nanogap-rich plasmonic nanostructures through an optothermal surface bubble in a droplet. Opt. Lett., 43(2), 334-336.
• Vasquez, E. S., Feugang, J. M., Willard, S. T., Ryan, P. L., & Walters, K. B. (2016). Bioluminescent magnetic nanoparticles as potential imaging agents for mammalian spermatozoa. J. of Nanobiotechnology, 14(1), 1-9. [Note: This paper was featured in the journal’s website and was cited as one of the influential articles in 2016.]
• Zakaria, A. B. M., Vasquez, E. S., Walters, K. B., & Leszczynska, D. (2015). Functional holey graphene oxide: A new electrochemically transformed substrate material for dopamine sensing. RSC Advances, 9, 107123-107135. doi: 10.1039/C5RA19991C

• UD University Award for Faculty Teaching, 2025
• Highlighted in the Diversify Chemistry and Diversify STEM Conferences (DSC) lists, 2019
• Back Cover and 2019 PCCP hot article, Journal of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
• Front Cover and 2015 JMC-B hot article, Journal of Materials Chemistry B (JMC-B)

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Mississippi State University, 2013
• M.S., Chemical Engineering, Clemson University, 2009
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA), 2007

• Learning to Teach Online, Linkedin (2020)
• Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects, certified by UC San Diego.
• Certificate of Professional Development Hours (24 PDHs) for Cargill Sponsored CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety) Faculty Workshop.
• Materials Science/Engineering Certificate, May 2013, Mississippi State University, MS

• CME 466L: Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory
• CME 324: Transport Phenomena I
• CME 325: Transport Phenomena II
• CME 381: Advanced Mathematics for Chemical Engineers
• CME 465: Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Processes

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Senior Member (2009 – present)
• American Chemical Society (ACS), Member (2013 – present)
  • Dayton Section, Past Chair, 2020
  • Dayton Section, Chair, 2019
  • Dayton Section, Chair Elect, 2018
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, Member (2010 – present)
  • UD Chapter, Secretary, 2020-2021
• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), Member (2015 – present)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Member (2011 – present)

• Vasquez-Guardado’s research interests are immersed in the nanoworld, with a focus on:
  • the synthesis and in-vivo/in-vitro evaluation of biocompatible nanoparticles,
  • nanomechanical properties studies and interactions of biomaterials with surface-functionalized nanoparticles,
  • the development of stimuli-responsive nanocomposites with magnetic properties for applications in many fields, ranging from medicine and healthcare devices to transport phenomena applications such as cooling, heating, and mass transfer.
• Vasquez-Guardado is also interested in engineering education research, with a focus on teamwork and experiential/active learning.