Dr. Prathima Nalam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Science from ETH Zurich in 2012. Her research focuses on macro- and nanoscale tribology, with an emphasis on two-dimensional materials, polymeric films, and hydrogels. Her work also examines the structural and adsorption behavior of lubricant additives and environmental pollutants at various surfaces and interfaces. Dr. Nalam is the recipient of several honors, including the NSF CAREER Award (2023), the STLE Early Career Award (2023), and the Swiss National Science Foundation Award (2012). Her research is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the New York State Center for Materials Informatics (NY-CMI), and industrial collaborations with Bausch & Lomb.