(6kc) Molecular Engineering Approach for the Development of Advanced Functional Materials: Engaging Students Through Impactful Research

Polymeric materials are ubiquitous in our society due to their relatively low cost and large parameter space that can modify their physical and chemical properties for a range of purposes. As synthetic techniques improve the ability to control the design, sequence, and functionality of polymers, their breadth of applications will only continue to grow and become more specialized. Looking to the future, one of the key interests for this field is to utilize more sustainable materials to reduce the reliance on oil-sourced feed stocks, and to improve reusability to address the growing volume of plastic wastes worldwide. My research interests broadly focus on the development and optimization of polymeric systems for engineering applications. This includes: (1) sustainable polyacetal-based chemistry and reaction kinetics. (2) Dynamic bond chemistry and stimuli responsive materials. (3) The use of light as a trigger to initiate chemical changes or modify physical properties of polymeric systems. My approach to materials research emphasizes understanding and applying fundamental principles of chemistry and chemical engineering to guide molecular design for engineered systems.

My previous research experience has focused on the synthesis and engineering of stimuli-responsive polymers for applications in semiconductor manufacturing and transient technology. In particular, I have helped expand the breadth of carbonyl-based addition polymerizations to design polymers with the ability to rapidly degrade in the solid-state back to their constituent small molecule monomers. My understanding of the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of these materials have led to me aiding chemical companies in scale-up and production of kilogram quantities of these polymers for defense applications in transient technology. I am intimately involved with several industry-collaborated projects in engineering devices and new manufacturing processes with these degradable materials.

Based on my expertise, I identified three research areas where I will have a high likelihood of success: (1) Further expanding the scope of carbonyl-based polymerization chemistries through strategic monomer and catalyst design. This includes exploring anionic and Lewis pair polymerization catalyst systems that will provide greater depth and control over monomer reactivity. (2) Combining the chemical property advantages of fluorinated polymers with the stimuli-responsive properties of polyacetals for advanced functional materials. (3) Taking advantage of dynamic acetal-based chemistries to develop materials systems that can adapt to external stresses, such as stress relaxation, self-healing, or recyclability.

The goal of this research is to advance both the fundamental understanding of polymer chemistry and physics, and applying this knowledge to better design materials systems for engineering applications. My group will utilize interdisciplinary skills to carry out significant results in both research and industry relevant areas.

Teaching Interests:

I am very enthusiastic about mentoring young researchers and teaching higher education. I first found my passion for teaching as an undergraduate teaching assistant for general chemistry under the tutelage of Dr. David Vanden Bout. I got to experience teaching using a flipped-classroom approach for class size of 300 students in a challenging subject. I enjoyed the experience so much that I spent 3 years in this position, where I became a leader with responsibilities of instructing and mentoring younger teaching assistants. I continued this passion for teaching to graduate school, where I have planned and taught over a dozen lectures for a graduate/undergraduate elective class on The Science and Engineering of Microelectronics Fabrication. The past two semesters I have also been organizing a Polymer Comunications seminar class that brings together graduate students from across departments that are interetsed in polymer research. The class brings in visiting scientists, industry representatives and graduate students speakers to discuss various aspects of polymer research. I feel very confident in teaching or implementing courses in microelectronics fabrication, kinetics and reaction engineering, polymer chemistry, and polymer science and engineering.

Mentoring young scientists and researchers has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me in my graduate career. I have had the joy of mentoring 11 undergraduate researchers in my first three years as a PhD student. In addition to a multitude of awards these mentees have won, four of these individuals were very talented and I helped aid them in pursuing their own graduate school careers at well-respected research institutions. I am truly excited about the prospect of mentoring graduate students in my future lab and aiding them to reach their career goals in science and engineering.