Dr. Joseph E. Meany
Joseph E. Meany, Ph.D., MSc is Lead Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton and President of The Interstellar Research Group. He is an internationally recognized expert in graphene and 2D nanomaterials, with a career spanning government, academia, and private industry.
Leveraging his strong background in chemistry, Joseph has made significant contributions to materials science, particularly in the development of graphene and molecular electronics. He is a major force behind advancements in space travel — thanks both to the potential applications of his work with graphene and his leadership of the Interstellar Research Group. He is the coauthor of Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World, written to share his deep insights into this potentially transformative material.
Joseph's research is particularly fascinating due to its intersection with space exploration. One of his notable projects is Metamaterial-Enhanced Graphene as a Beamed Energy Sail for Interstellar Probes, presented at the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop 2019 Symposium. This research explores using graphene to create lightweight, highly reflective sails for interstellar propulsion, aiming to reduce mass while maximizing acceleration for space probes.
Joseph highlights the challenge of minimizing areal density, suggesting graphene as a durable, low-mass alternative to traditional metal films on polymer substrates. His work on graphene extends to researching the potential for mass production of the versatile material. This is explored in his 2018 article Mass-Producing Graphene published in American Scientist, wherein he discusses the various challenges facing researchers seeking to manufacture graphene at scale. This research is crucial for translating scientific discoveries on graphene into practical uses.
During his Ph.D at the University of Alabama, Joseph made significant strides in molecular electronics. His 2015 study, Conduction and Efficient Rectification in Unimolecular Hemibiquinone Self-Assembled Monolayers, explored how organized monolayers of hemibiquinone can reliably conduct and rectify electrical current, thereby laying the groundwork for the development of ultra-small electronic components with far-reaching implications for future computing technologies.
In his 2016 paper, Surprisingly Big Rectification Ratios for a Very Small Unimolecular Rectifier, Joseph introduces a new class of carbon-based donor–σ–acceptor rectifiers using hemibiquinones, where the inherent inter-ring torsion electronically isolates their donor and acceptor groups. Self-assembling via chemisorption into a 1.1 nm-thick monolayer on gold, these hemibiquinones achieve rectification ratios ranging from 5 to 160 at 2.5 V using three different electrode configurations, marking a promising step beyond Moore’s Law.
That same year, his dissertation, Hemibiquinones: Synthesis and Computational Validation of an Asymmetric D—A Biphenyl System, detailed not only the design, synthesis, and computational analysis of hemibiquinone but also its experimental validation as a molecular diode demonstrating a forward/reverse current ratio approaching 200 at 2.5 V by leveraging a deliberate break in electron conjugation. This work established essential size limits for electron transfer, proving that breaking conjugation alone can yield efficient rectification, and paved the way for further exploration into how factors such as polarity, torsion angles, end-group effects, and HOMO-LUMO gap energy influence rectification efficiency.
Joseph has been a dedicated, long-standing member of The Interstellar Research Group, having joined during its early days when it was known as the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop. In 2019, Joseph began serving as Secretary on the Board, where his achievements include growing the attendance at the biennial academic conference series by over 50%. In 2025, Joseph became the President of the organization.
The Interstellar Research Group is a nonprofit dedicated to uniting visionaries from diverse fields to address the technical, economic, and social challenges of interstellar travel. The mission of the group is to transform humanity into an interstellar species, preserving and protecting intelligent life by exploring and settling other worlds. It brings together brilliant minds through regular summits, promotes education to spark curiosity and innovation, publishes scientific papers to advance knowledge, and nurtures literature and culture to encourage an optimistic public perspective on venturing to the stars. The Interstellar Research Group works to cultivate a strong supportive framework of technology, philosophy, and economics whose aim is to ultimately lay the groundwork for planetary outposts and space travel.
In addition to his administrative and scientific work, Joseph is also active as an educator, making complex topics accessible to lay audiences. His public engagement work as part of The Interstellar Research Group includes co-producing From Here to the Stars, a podcast series focused on educating and inspiring the public about the science and personalities driving humanity's journey into space. Joseph has also been featured in interviews with The Verge, alongside coauthor and fellow Interstellar Research Group member Les Johnson. Watch Why graphene hasn’t taken over the world… yet.
Joseph’s career reflects a steady climb through scientific research and leadership roles, wherein he has continually demonstrated excellence. His early professional experiences began with internships at Mylan Technologies (2007–2008), where he contributed to quality control and regulatory compliance, and continued as a Research Technician at Warwick Mills (2009), supporting material innovation and testing.
At the same time, Joseph pursued advanced studies at The University of Alabama, earning both a Master of Science in Chemistry (2010–2012) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Analytical/Organic Chemistry (2010–2016). While serving as a Graduate Research Assistant during this period, he immersed himself in advanced research that laid the groundwork for his technical expertise.
Building on this strong academic foundation, Joseph advanced his career in more specialized industry roles. As an Analytical Consultant at Laboratory Management Consultants (2016–2018), he delivered critical expertise in laboratory analytics and management. His role as an Application Scientist at On-Line Instrument Systems (2017–2019) further honed his abilities; he successfully identified market gaps, led a team to develop flagship products, and oversaw comprehensive launch documentation. He also broadened his influence as an Advisory Board Member at the National Graphene Association (2018–2020), where he offered strategic guidance on graphene applications.
In the next phase of his career at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Joseph served first as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (2020–2022) and then as a Senior Scientist (2022). In these roles, he coauthored patents for decarbonization technologies, secured $14.2 million in research funding, supervised junior researchers, and provided technical recommendations and strategic insights to Department of Energy and Department of Defense program managers.
Joseph has served as a Lead Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton since June 2022, where he leverages his extensive expertise in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, spectroscopy, and nanoscience to support client programs and innovative research. In this role, he creates detailed landscape analyses, technical advice, and proposal reviews to guide program development, while keeping a close eye on emerging trends in sustainability-focused areas like carbon capture, resource circularity, and low-carbon manufacturing.
He advises stakeholder leadership on future opportunities and risks in the chemical and biological fields, helping shape public and private funding strategies, and provides critical technical assessments and programmatic support for high-risk, early-stage research projects with low Technology Readiness Levels.
Joseph’s career embodies a fusion of innovative research and effective leadership — a blend that is essential for propelling advances in both materials science and humanity’s journey into space. By harnessing the transformative potential of graphene and 2D nanomaterials, he is charting a course for important advancements in molecular electronics and space technology. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and inspiring the next generation of innovators, Joseph’s impact is not just in his scientific achievements, but in his visionary drive to enable humanity to quite literally reach the stars!
Watch Joseph Meany — Metamaterial – Enhanced Graphene as a Beamed Energy Sail for Interstellar Probes, From Here to the Stars Episode 8: Joe Meany and Why graphene hasn’t taken over the world… yet.
Listen to The Material That Will Revolutionize the World.
Read Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World and Behind the Hype: Experts Explain the Science Behind Graphene, the New Supermaterial.
Stay up to date with Joseph's critical work by following him on LinkedIn, X, and Google Scholar. Additionally, keep an eye on the latest updates from The Interstellar Research Group by following them on LinkedIn, Youtube, X, and Facebook.