Dr. White Smirnova's research expertise is focused on morphological, chemical, and electrochemical processes of materials and materials interfaces pertinent to chemical sensors, biomass reforming, supercapacitors, polymer and solid-state fuel cells, and next-generation solid-state energy storage, such as sodium- and lithium-ion batteries. Dr. White Smirnova is the author and co-author of two books, eighteen book chapters, and ten patents or patent disclosures. In the past, Dr. White Smirnova provided overall management and technical supervision of numerous projects supported by the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Science Foundation, and NATO. These projects were focused on chemical sensors, solid oxide- and polymer membrane fuel cells, and next-generation energy storage, such as lithium- and sodium-ion batteries
Dr. Smirnova is a Professor at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences (CBHS) Department and the Materials Engineering and Science (MES) program. She currently serves as the Director of the NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Solid State Electric Power Storage (CEPS)” www.GreenCeps.com. This Center includes South Dakota Mines as the lead institution and Syracuse and Northeastern universities as its sites. Furthermore, Dr. Smirnova serves as the Principal Investigator of the “South Dakota Governor’s Research Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage” which supports undergraduate and graduate students at South Dakota Mines and South Dakota State University (SDSU). At South Dakota Mines, this project supports students and faculty in the departments of Mechanical Engineering (ME), Materials and Mining Engineering (MME), Physics, Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), and Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences (CBHS). Regarding outreach activities, Dr. Smirnova
Dr. White Smirnova has broad teaching experience in green and sustainable chemistry, environmental sustainability, inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials science. Dr. White Smirnova supervised multiple NSF-sponsored projects focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) for workforce development in South Dakota.