Robert V. Chimenti is an Assistant Professor and Photonics Coordinator in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and affiliated faculty with the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute (AMMI) at Rowan University. He also holds courtesy appointments in Chemical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Rowan University and an MS in Electro-Optics from the University of Dayton. Before transitioning to academia, he spent a decade in industry where he primarily focused on laser and spectrometer instrumentation. Currently, Dr. Chimenti's research is primarily centered around novel applications of Raman spectroscopy with a particular focus on polymer physics, thermal analysis, and kinetics. He is also heavily involved in the development of 3D printing methodologies for heterogeneous materials such as gradient index polymeric optics. Lastly, his research group is also studying the effects of surface structure on optical interfaces, plasmonic devices, and programmable diffractive optical elements. Dr. Chimenti is a co-PI for the NSF Engine Development Award: Advancing Photonics Technologies and a founding Trustee of PhotonicsNJ. An active SAS member, he serves on the SAS Governing Board, as an Associate Editor for Applied Spectroscopy, and on the Editorial Board for Applied Spectroscopy Practica. He has held numerous leadership roles within FACSS/SciX, including General Chair (2021) and Workshops Chair (2017-2020); and is currently serving as the Low-Frequency Raman Session Chair (2023-present).

Vibrational Spectroscopy | Polymer Physics | Heterogeneous and Functionally Graded Materials

The Chimenti Lab is currently focused on three key research areas 

1. Utilizing vibrational spectroscopy to better understand polymer physics, thermal analysis, and kinetics.
2. Developing 3D printing methodologies for heterogeneous materials such as gradient index polymeric optics.
3. Studying the effects of surface structure on optical interfaces, plasmonic devices, and diffractive optical elements.

Kinetics of Materials, Electro-Optic Devices, Laser Physics, Introduction to Optical Design, Optics and Light, Electricity and Magnetism II, Electricity and Magnetism I, Introductory Electricity & Magnetism, Physics II w/o Calculus, Light, Lasers, Geometric Optical Design, Introductory Physics Concepts

Society of Applied Spectroscopy; Coblentz Society; SPIE (the international society for optics and photonics); PhotonicsNJ

• R. V. Chimenti*, S. E. Lofland. Anomalous anti-Stokes Raman Scattering During Epoxy-Amine Polymerization. Polymer Testing. 151 (2025) 108943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108943 
• S. Schwenger, R. V. Chimenti, J. A. Newell, F. M. Haas, J. F. Stanzione*. Process Dependent Structural Evolution of Poly(Ether-Ketone-Ketone) (PEKK) During Pyrolysis in Carbon Fiber Composites. Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2025; 226:e00008. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202500008 
• D. Engelhardt, Y. Wu, J. Tu, J. F. Stanzione, G.R. Schmidt, R. V. Chimenti*. Comparative Analysis of Refractive Index Mapping of 3D Printed Polymeric Optics Using Raman Microscopy and Interferometry. ACS Applied Optical Materials 2025, 3 (6), 1208-1218. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaom.5c00084 
• Tu, J.D. Engelhardt, M.H. Barkow, J.C. Crux-Robles, J.F Stanzione, R.V. Chimenti*, G.R. Palmese*. Additive manufacturing of polymeric gradient index optics via grayscale digital light processing vat photopolymerization technology. ACS Applied Optical Materials 2025 3 (6), 1197-1207. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaom.5c00143 
• A. Bensley, R. V. Chimenti*, S. E. Lofland*, Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy of Polymers. Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2025, 226, 70004. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400517 
• D. Flamini, M. Keblawi, T. Lima, R. V. Chimenti, N. Alvarez, V. Beachley*, Novel Use of Laser Zone-Drawing on Nanofibers Enables Ultra-Fast Thermal Kinetics and Precise Diameter Control. Adv. Mater. Technol. 2025, 10, 2401550. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202401550 
• V. Chimenti*, K.A. Bensley, A. M. Lehman-Chong, J. D. Engelhardt, A. M. Sepcic, J. Tu, J. F. Stanzione, S. E. Lofland. Influence of Rheological Modifications on Primary Network Chemical and Structural Cure Kinetics for an Interpenetrating Polymer Network Resin. Applied Spectroscopy. 2024;78(11):1173-1182.  https://doi.org/10.1177/00037028241270637 
• Yang, S. Sreekumar, R. V. Chimenti, M. Veksler, K. Song, S. Zhang, D. Rodas, V. Christianson, and D. M. O'Carroll*. Polypropylene-Derived Luminescent Carbon Dots. ACS Materials Lett. 2024, 6, 5, 1968–1976. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.3c01419 
• V. Chimenti*, A. M. Lehman-Chong, A. M. Sepcic, J. D. Engelhardt, J. T. Carriere, K. A. Bensley, A. Markashevsky, J. Tu, J. F. Stanzione, S. E. Lofland. Method for determining resin cure kinetics with low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. Analyst, 2023, 148 5698-5706. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3an01099f 
• V. Chimenti*, J. T. Carriere, D. M. D'Ascoli, J. D. Engelhardt, A. M. Sepcic, K. A. Bensley, A. M. Lehman-Chong, J. F. Stanzione, S. E. Lofland. Toward a practical method for measuring glass transition in polymers with low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. Appl. Phys. Lett. 122(26), 264101 (June 2023). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0155631