(4dy) Developing a Sustainable Future for Stimuli-Responsive Soft Matter

My research interests have continuously revolved around the development of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials. The ability to design a system from small molecule to polymer network for targeted applications has always been a source of fascination for me. These interests have allowed me to channel a chemistry background into an assortment of areas including interlocked macromolecular machines, dynamic covalent networks, tissue engineering, and liquid crystalline systems. As a Masters student working with Prof. Bingbing Li at Central Michigan University, I began my research career evaluating phase separation behavior of biodegradable polymer composites targeting biomedical applications. Using physicochemical approaches, I sought to understand the impact of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) on polycaprolactone (PCL) thin films: how might POSS reinforce the biodegradable polymer and what were the limits for using it as an additive? From there, I entered my doctoral studies working with Prof. Stuart Rowan first at Case Western Reserve University and then at The University of Chicago. Here my research transitioned towards synthetic chemistry and polymer science, allowing me to apply my chemistry knowledge towards dynamic, functional materials. My interest in the incorporation of combinatorial chemistry – specifically the dynamic thia-Michael reaction – into polymer systems led to the ground-up development of dynamic thia-Michael polymer networks and became my primary dissertation project. I synthesized a variety of ditopic Michael acceptors whose ability to engage thiol reactive groups was tuned by the electron donating/withdrawing nature of aromatic substituents. The thia-Michael systems also exhibited a dynamic, reaction-induced phase separation behavior that made them uniquely applicable as both a pressure sensitive and hot melt adhesives. After completing my Ph.D., I looked for a new challenge that would compliment my chemistry and material science experience. I found this in Prof. Tim White’s group at the University of Colorado Boulder where I initiated a new line of study within the group evaluating the biological interface between aligned liquid crystalline systems and cell growth. Collaborating closely with Prof. Kristi Anseth’s group, I am working to leverage the nematic alignment in calamitic liquid crystalline materials as a tissue culture substrate capable of directing aligned cell growth. In addition to these studies, I have also focused on enzyme-immobilized liquid crystalline sensors in collaboration with Prof. Joel Kaar's and Prof. Dan Schwartz's groups as well as the development of supramolecular liquid crystalline elastomers. Both projects take advantage of hydrogen bonding motifs to generate stimuli-induced liquid crystal transitions at speeds and in environments that have not been previously explored.

Future Research Plans:

Stimuli-responsive materials, especially those incorporating dynamic or supramolecular bonds, are often described as recyclable, reprocessible, and reusable materials. In a world coming to grips with its single-use plastic and pollution problem, these features are rightfully hailed as being a progressive step in a new direction for the polymer industry. However, with a few notable exceptions, the novelty of these materials at the academic level has been mostly restricted to small, trial size examples of what could be. My future research will focus on the advancement of polymer processing to present stimuli-responsive systems to the general population as well as the further development of dynamic and supramolecular materials to target real-world problems and make a sustainable polymer future possible. The development of sustainable systems requires more than science: my research group will be considering many facets of sustainability in industry including life cycle analysis and cost evaluations, leading to an abundance of opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and new avenues for student enrichment. To achieve these research goals, my research group will lead investigations in three primary areas: 1) process engineering of up-and-coming polymeric materials, 2) synthesis of novel responsive materials conducive to sustainable practices, and 3) blending advancements in polymer processing with new sustainable stimuli-responsive materials to access a next generation of functional, globally responsible polymers. While my research plan focuses on sustainability, synthesis, and processing as a complete picture, the development of techniques, models, and chemistries to achieve the overarching goals are equally exciting in their unknown potential contribution to the scientific community.

Teaching Interests:

As a teacher and a mentor, it is my privilege and responsibility to provide students with the tools they need to succeed not only in the classroom, but in their future endeavors. My goal as an educator is to cultivate an effective learning environment that is accessible to all students regardless of background, learning style, or career path. Students in my classroom and research group will learn to see “failure” as a turning point, not an end point. They will be able to adapt the scientific process to solve problems autonomously and effectively in lab, in life, and in their future careers. Having developed these individual techniques, my students will be able to communicate their insights with their peers and with their community. To reach this goal, I will focus my efforts towards three key objectives: 1) promoting inclusivity of learning styles, background, and career trajectory, 2) connecting course material to real-world challenges that invite unexpected outcomes and provide an atmosphere that encourages course-corrections, and 3) building collaborative spaces that develop teamwork and communication skills.