William Bonificio
295 Harvard St. Apt. 207
Cambridge, MA 02139
518-669-3115
wdb@seas.harvard.edu
Education
Doctoral Candidate – Harvard University
Applied Physics
(2009-Present)
Master of Science – Harvard University
Applied Physics
(2009-2011)
Bachelor of Science - Cornell University
Materials Science and Engineering
(2005-2009)
Research Focus
The scarcity of tellurium and the rare earths is rapidly becoming a global problem.
These elements are crucial to green energy, and their lack of supplies will hinder the growth
and proliferation of future energy technologies and devices. Moreover, current production
and recycling of these elements is complex, inefficient, and utilize environmental pollutants.
I am exploring bioengineering approaches to the recovery and recycling of these and other
scarce metals without the use of toxic chemicals.
I have cultured extremophilic bacteria from hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean
that are unusually resistant to tellurium and are able to transform it between various
species. My research has shown the bacteria are able to recover tellurium from a variety of
sources, including a mining effluent from its production, as well as devices, like CdTe solar
cells. This research has provided insights on tellurium’s biological cycling, and I am
currently exploring the overall bacterial tellurium speciation mechanism.
Separation of the rare earths from one another is a unique industrial challenge
because they are all similar in size and valency. Utilizing bacterial biosorption, I have
achieved separation and concentration of the rare earths with efficiencies that are higher
than are currently achieved in industry. I am now attempting to optimize this process and
simulate the mechanism by which this occurs abiotically.
Previous Research Projects
Internships
GE Global Research Center – Niskayuna, NY
(2009)
Helped with the construction and testing of an impact rig used for testing on TBC spallation
on impact. Tested the impact resistance of many field used turbine samples. By varying the
projectile velocity and hardness, and blade temperature at impact I demonstrated that TBC
spallation in field parts could be mimicked by lab-scale projectile impacts.
GE Global Research Center – Niskayuna, NY
(2008)
Researched the strengthening mechanisms of TZM derived from various carbide formation.
Created new alloys based on thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of the system. Performed
mechanical testing, such as hot hardness, on the new samples in order to characterize the
strengthening. Researched the processability of the new TZM alloys, including research on
ways to improve TZM based on modifying the heat treatment cycle. Wrote report
summarizing findings.
GE Energy – Schenectady, NY
(2007)
Researched the failure mechanisms of 8-YSZ that result from phase instability. Performed
mechanical testing on aged samples to discover at what point the phase change (tetragonal
 monoclinic + cubic) occurs, and whether or not this causes a degradation of properties.
Also researched field used parts to compare to laboratory specimens. Characterized novel
powders to undergo similar tests. Participated in DYNES meeting between GE and other
Universities.
Cornell
Olbricht Research Group
(2007)
Characterized the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on the perfusion of drug molecules.
Optimized penetration depth on tissue from chickens.
Ulrich Wiesner Research Group
(2006)
Researched the optimization of adding a functional shell to a fluorescent silica nanoparticle.
Characterized the parameters involved in adding this shell.
Publications
W. D. Bonificio and D. R. Clarke. Bacterial Separation and Recovery of the Lanthanides.
(Pending Publication)
W. D. Bonificio and D. R. Clarke. Bacterial Recovery and Recycling of Tellurium. (Pending
publication)
M. W. Gaultois, T. D. Sparks, C. K. H. Borg, R. Seshadri, W. D. Bonificio, D. R. Clarke. A
data-driven review on thermoelectric materials: Performance and resource considerations.
Chemical Reviews. 2013.
Patents
W. D. Bonificio, D. R. Clarke. Systems and Methods for Separating and Recovering Rare
Earths. March 2013. U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/790,071.
Presentations
W. D. Bonificio, D. R. Clarke. Bacterial Separation and Recovery of Rare Earth Elements for
Sustainable Clean Energy Technologies. 2013. Materials Research Society Fall Meeting.
W. D. Bonificio, D. R. Clarke. Microbial Approaches to the Extraction and Recovery of Scarce
Metals. 2012. Materials Research Society Fall Meeting.
Teaching Experience
Materials, Energy, and Society Laboratory Head Teaching Fellow. (Fall 2013)
Energy Materials and Society Laboratory Head Teaching Fellow. (Spring 2011)
Energy Materials and Society Laboratory Head Teaching Fellow. (Fall 2011)
Honors/Awards
Harvard University Center for the Environment Consortium on
(2012)
Energy and the Environment Graduate
Harvard University Derek Bok Teaching Excellence Award
(Spring 2011)
Harvard University Derek Bok Certificate of Distinction in Teaching (Fall 2011)
National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship
(2011)
Honorable Mention
Cornell University Engineering Learning Initiatives Research Award (2007)