The Kisailus Biomimetic and Nanostructured Materials Laboratory investigates biomineralized composites in order to derive not only structure–functional relationships (for development of lightweight and tough materials), but also in interpreting mineralization pathways that dictate resulting ultrastructures. The Kisailus lab focuses on gleaning inspiration from these biological systems, or directly using biological constructs, to develop/utilize solution–based processes to synthesize nanoscale materials for energy-based applications. This includes trying to understand the relationships between the solution precursor, solvent, and solution conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, etc.) on the nucleation and growth of these materials and their resulting structures and performance. The ultimate goal is to be able to leverage lessons from nature to develop next-generation materials for energy conversion and storage as well as for environmental applications.