Former Group Members

Michael Jacobs

2022 – Present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, ORNL
2022, Ph.D. Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
2015, B.S. Mathematics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
E-mail: mjacobs9@email.unc.edu
Research Topic: Non-Linear Elastic Modulus of Dry and Swollen Graft Polymer Networks

Haley Starvaggi

2020, M.S. Polymer Science, The University of Akron, OH, USA
2013, B.S. Chemical Engineering, B.A. French, The University of Akron, OH, USA
Research Topic: Time-Temperature Superposition of Bottlebrush Polymers

Adam Woods

2020 – Present: Marketing Analyst, BASF Agricultural Solutions, RTP, NC, USA
2020, Ph.D. Polymer Science, The University of Akron, OH, USA
2016, B.S. Chemistry and Mathematics, Belmont University, TN, USA
Research Topic: Material Screening Techniques via Additive Manufacturing

Bang-an Peng

2021 – Present: Materials R&D Scientst, EA Medical Instruments Tech. Ltd.
2020, Ph.D. Polymer Science, The University of Akron, OH, USA
2015, B.S. Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P.R. China
Research Topic: Additive Manufacturing, Shape Memory Polymer

Yunchong Yang

2020 – Present: Ph.D. student in Material Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University,  TX, USA
2020, M.S. Polymer Science, The University of Akron, OH, USA
2019, B.E. Polymer Materials and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Research Topic: 4D Printing of Self-Healing and Shape Memory Polymer Materials Based on FFF or DLP Printing Platforms

Heyi Liang

2019 – Present: Postdoctoral Scholar, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, IL, USA
2019, Ph.D. Polymer Science, The University of Akron, OH, USA
2014, B.S. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
Research Topic: Supersoft and Hyperelastic Properties of Graft Polymer Networks

Zhen Cao

2019 – Present: Associate at McKinsey & Company, NJ, USA
2017 – 2019 Postdoc in Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
2017, Ph.D. Polymer Science, University of Akron, OH, USA
2012, B.S. Polymer, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R.China
Research Topic: Wetting and adhesion at nanoscale; Bottlebrush melts, networks and dynamics

Mike Chmura

2016 – 2017: Visiting High School Student, St.Vincent-St.Mary High School, OH, USA
Research Topic: Nanoparticle Adhesion

Andre P. Martinez

2017 – Present, Scientist at DSM, PA, USA
2015 – 2017, Postdoc at IBBR, University of Maryland/NIST, MD, USA
2015, Ph.D. Polymer Science, Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2009, B.A. Chemistry, Williams College, MA, USA
Research Topic: Polymer Brushes: Surface Initiated and Bottlebrush Self-Assembly

Andrew J. Oyer

2014 – Present: Patent Examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office, WI, USA
2013 – 2014: NRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Naval Research Laboratories – Chemical Division, Washington, DC, USA
2013, Ph.D. Polymer Science, Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2008, B.S. Mechanical Polymer Engineering and a minor in Applied Mathematics, University of Akron, OH
Research Topic: Exfoliation and Chemical Modifications of Natural Flake Graphite

Jan-Michael Y. Carrillo

2012 – Present: Postdoc ORISE: ARRA/ORNL
2010 – 2012 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2009, Ph.D. Polymer Science, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2000 – 2004, Systems Engineer, Petron Bataan Refinery, Philippines
2003, M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman Q.C., Philippines
1998, B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman Q.C., Philippines
Research Topic: Computational Studies of Polymeric Systems

Daniel Russano

2014 – Present, Zygo Corporation, CT, USA
2013, M.S. in Physics, Boston University, MA, USA
2011, B.S. in Physics, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
Minor Degree in Mathematics

Newton Wahome

2020 – Present, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA
2011 – 2020, Expert Scientist in Vaccine Design, GlaxoSmithKline
2011, Ph.D. in Biophysics, Molecular Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2007, MSPH – Epidemiology, University of Alabama, AL, USA
2003, BS Biology, University of Central Missouri, MO, USA

Fangxiao Guan

2017 – Present, Senior Material Engineer, Align Tech., CA, USA
2013 – 2017, Senior Chemist, Behr Process Corp., CA, USA
2010 – 2013, R&D Material Scientist, Shocking Technologies, Inc., CA, USA
2010, Ph.D. Polymer Science, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2006, M.S. Polymer Chemistry, UMass Lowell, MA, USA
2003, M.S. Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R.China
2000, B.S in Polymer Materials Science & Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, P.R.China

Alexander S. Gubarev

2012, Ph.D. Polymer Physics, St. Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia
2007 – 2009, Fulbright Scholar, Visisting Student Researcher, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2006, M.S. Physics of Macromolecular Compounds, Department of Polymer Physics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
2003, B.S. Physics of Macromolecular Compounds, Department of Polymer Physics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
Research Topics: Molecular Simulations of Polyelectrolyte Systems in Solution and Film, Self-organization of Natural and Synthetic Macromolecules at Interfaces

Daniel J. Sandberg

2015 – Present, S&P Global Market Intelligence, NY, USA
2012 – 2015, Senior Financial Analyst The Legacy Foundation, LLC, VA, USA
2012, Ph.D. University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2007, B.S Chemistry, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
Minor Degree in Mathematics
Minor Degree in Business
Research Topic: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polymer Silica Nanocomposites

Junhwan Jeon

2006 – 2010, Postdoc, Vanderbilt University, TN, USA
2005, Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
2001, M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea
1998, B.S. in Geophysics, Geological Science, Seoul National University, Korea

Research Topic: Protein-Polyelectrolyte Complexes, Bacterial Gliding Motility

Venkateswarlu Panchagnula

2005, Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
Research Topic: Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly of Protein-Polyelectrolyte Molecules

Pritesh Patel

2007, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, OH, USA
Research Topic: Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly of Polyelectrolytes