Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium

The Symposium

 

This one-day symposium is held annually at the Spring ACS National Meeting.  The symposium consists of 10-12 oral presentations and approximately a dozen posters, presented by undergraduate students from universities across the USA.  The National Science Foundation Department of Materials Research sponsors travel awards for the top ten preprints.  The POLY Division Industrial Advisory Board sponsors an award for the best oral presentation and an award for the best poster. 

 

 View previous winners below on this page!

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Call for papers for the ACS National Meetings 

 

We would like to invite you to submit a graphical abstract for each of the Spring National ACS Meetings.  The deadlines are identical as those set by MAPS for each meeting.

 

Limited travel awards are available that will be awarded based on the quality of the graphical abstract, the relationship of the research to the theme of the meeting, and to ensure distribution of awards to multiple institutions.   In addition to the travel awards, $500 Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster Presentation Awards sponsored by the POLY Industrial Advisory Board will be awarded at the meeting.
 
This meeting is intended to provide recognition to outstanding undergraduate students in polymer science and engineering, to foster networking and exposure, to introduce opportunities in graduate research and to help develop the careers of future leaders in both academia and industry.  A keynote lecture in polymer science, career panel, discussion of graduate school opportunities, and a networking reception are included in the symposium.
 
Students should enter the graphical abstract of his or her presentation at the ACS abstract submission site  https://acsmaps.abstractcentral.com/members/client/acs.jsp, under "Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science”  in the POLY division by the MAPS deadline for each meeting.  Students may request poster or oral presentation.  A GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT is required.  Please be sure to submit a figure with the abstract.  Be sure to get approval from your faculty advisor and list your advisor as a co-author.

 

 

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Spring 2017, symposium and winners

Sponsored by IAB and George Foster Bequest

The 12th annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA with 13 oral and 33 poster presentations from 30 institutions across the country. The POLY Industrial Advisory Board and Dr. George Foster’s bequest sponsored awards for best paper and the best poster presentation.

The symposium featured a panel discussion on Careers in Industry, with representatives from Dow, Covestro, Polymer Chemistry Innovations, Air Force Research Laboratories, and University of Oregon. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, IAB, and USM School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. Special thanks to the symposium organizers Sarah Morgan, Sergei Nazarenko, and Joe Lott all from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials for their continued commitment to this very important annual symposium. Polymer undergraduate programs and awards are an important part of POLY’s commitment to its membership at all stages!

Organizers: Joseph Lott, Sarah Morgan, Sergei Nazarenko

Best Oral Presentation (IAB)
David Bilger, California Polytechnic State University

POLY 149: Multi-scale assembly of polythiophene-surfactant supramolecular complexes

2nd place Oral (POLY)
Brett Pogostin, Haverford College

POLY 202: pKa determination of a his residue in a self-assembling peptide using Raman spectroscopy

3rd Place Oral (POLY)
Roxanna Kiessling, Claremont Colleges

POLY 201: Semi-flexible string conformational analysis towards an experimental hydrophobic-folding model system

Best Poster Presentation (IAB)
Christopher Kasprzak, California Polytechnic State University

POLY 475: Polysoaps to serve as stimuli-responsive micelles for environmental remediation applications

 

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Spring 2016, symposium and winners

 

The 11th annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the ACS National Meeting, in San Diego, CA with 18 oral and 25 poster presentations from 28 universities across the country. The POLY Industrial Advisory Board sponsored $500 awards for the best paper and the best poster presentation. POLY sponsored travel awards for the four runners-up. The NSF SusChEM: REU Site: Polymer Innovation for a Sustainable Future at the University of Southern Mississippi sponsored four travel awards.

The symposium featured an IAB panel discussion on Careers in Industry, with representatives from national lab, academic, and industrial laboratories. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, IAB, and USM School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. Special thanks to the symposium organizers, Sarah Morgan, Sergei Nazarenko, and Joe Lott of The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials for their continued commitment to this very important annual symposium. Polymer Undergraduate programs and awards are an important part of POLY’s commitment to its membership at all stages!

1st Place Paper
Michael Martinez
California Polytechnic State
University San Luis Obispo

2nd Place Paper
Victoria Muir
University of Delaware

3rd Place Paper
Eric Bruckner
Case Western University

1st Place Poster
 Jasmine Davila
Monmouth College
 
2nd Place Poster
Joshua Bernier
North Dakota State University

3rd Place Poster
Adam Wilkins
US Air Force Academy

Undergraduate Oral and Poster Awards:

(l-r ) T. Baughman (DSM), S. Morgan (Univ. of Southern
Mississippi), J. Bernier (North Dakota State Univ.),
K. Haider (Covestro), J. Davila (Monmouth College),
and M. Hunt, (PolyMaterials)

 

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Spring 2015, symposium and winners

 

 

The 10th annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the Denver National Meeting, with 18 oral and 24 poster presentations from 26 universities across the country. Sabic Innovative Plastics sponsored travel awards for the top eight abstracts.

 

The POLY Industrial Advisory Board sponsored $500 awards for the best paper and the best poster presentation. POLY provided travel awards for the four runners-up. The symposium featured an IAB panel discussion on Careers in Industry with representatives from national lab, academic, and industrial laboratories. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, Sabic Innovative Plastics, and The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials.

 

The IAB Best Paper Award was presented to Allison Linehan, University of San Diego and the IAB Best Poster Award to Douglas Smith, Pacific Lutheran University. SABIC Travel Award winners were Daniel Zamorano, The University of Texas at Dallas, Samantha Fuchs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, William Horn, Ashland University, Patrick Thomas, University of Akron, Michael Roth, University of Southern Mississippi, Erik Crenshaw, California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, Tom Kolibaba, Pacific Lutheran University, Kara Geremia, Wright State University, and Megan Seymour, The University of Texas at Dallas. POLY Travel Award winners were Dylan Barber, Williams College, Nicholas Ostrovosky-Snyder, Western Washington University, Matthew Carlson, University of Texas, and Carl Thrasher, USAF Academy. The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan and Sergei Nazarenko of The University of Southern Mississippi.

 

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Spring 2014, symposium and winners

 

   The ninth annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the Dallas ACS National Meeting, with sixteen oral and 30 poster presentations from 30 universities across the country.  Sabic Innovative Plastics sponsored travel awards for the top five abstracts. The POLY Industrial Advisory Board sponsored $500 awards for the best paper and the best poster presentation.  The symposium featured a career panel section with representatives from national lab, academic, and industrial laboratories.  Kate Beers (NIST), Dan Savin (University of Southern Mississippi), and Diana Gerbi (3M), served as panelists. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, Sabic Innovative Plastics, and The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and culminated with a joint reception with the Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium. Sabic travel award winners were: Sophie Miller (Stanford University), Tyler Brown (University of Southern Mississippi), Joseph A. Moo-Young (North Carolina State University), Aakriti Kharel (Wesleyan College), and Hannah Brown, (University of Southern Mississippi). The best paper award was presented to Guilhem Dehoe (California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo), and the best poster award was presented to Ford Carty (U.S. Air Force Academy), by POLY IAB. The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan, Sergei Nazarenko and Dan Savin of The University of Southern Mississippi.

 

 

  

 

2014 Travel Award Recipients
Hannah Brown, University of Southern Mississippi
Tyler Brown, University of Southern Mississippi
Aakriti Kharel, Wesleyan College
Sophie Miller, Stanford University
Joseph A. Moo-Young, North Carolina State University

 

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Spring 2013, symposium and winners

 

The 8th annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the New Orleans National Meeting, with a record 22 oral and 40 poster presentations from 31 universities across the country, more than double the size of previous symposia. The National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research sponsored travel awards for the top sixteen abstracts. The POLYEd committee sponsored a breakfast workshop on reviewing research articles and presentations for undergraduates. The POLY Industrial Advisory Board sponsored $500 awards for the best paper and the best poster presentation.

The symposium featured a key-note lecture from Prof. Kristi L. Kiick entitled “Biopolymer Hydrogels for Cardiovascular Surgery” followed by a discussion of the research and career opportunities for polymer scientists.

 

The program was co-sponsored by POLY, The Society Committee on Education, and The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and culminated with a joint reception with the Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium.

 

NSF travel award winners were: Lauren Agoubi, Williams College, Christine Archuleta, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Richard Carmean, Virginia Tech, Lindsey Cobb, University of Alabama, John Edelbrock, Case Western Reserve University, Anna Falls, Ashland University, Abigail Abigail, University of Akron, Zoe Glick, Loyola, Ethan Harak, Rockhurst University, Matthew Kahabka, Clarkson University, Tristan Kleine, University of California Polytechnic at San Louis Obispo, Emily Lasselle, Western Washington University, Odin Achorn, University of New Hampshire, Michael Sims, University of Southern Mississippi, Nicole Traphagen, Clarkson University, and Wade Wang, University of Texas.

 

The best paper award was presented to Leon Dean, University of Texas and the best poster award was presented to Emily Lasselle of Western Washington University by Diana Gerbi and Semra Colak of the POLY IAB. The POLY Division Industrial Advisory Board sponsored best oral and best poster presentations.

 

The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan, Sergei Nazarenko and Dan Savin of The University of Southern Mississippi, and Sarah Goh and Christopher Goh of Williams College.

 

 

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Spring 2012, symposium and winners

 

 

The 7th annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the San Diego, CA, National Meeting. There were eleven oral presentations and twelve posters from students from sixteen universities across the country. Sabic Innovative Plastics and DiffuVision sponsored travel awards for the top ten preprints. The POLY Division Industrial Advisory Board sponsored best oral and best poster presentations.

 

The program was co-sponsored by POLY, The Society Committee on Education and The University of Southern Mississippi and culminated with a joint reception with the Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium. The participants who received the Travel Award are listed at the right. Additional travel awards were sponsored by the NSF REU Site for Sustainable Composites at The University of Southern Mississippi awarded to Hannah Bygd, Luther College, Leo Falgout, GA Tech University and Timothy Kuchera, State University of New York Buffalo. The best paper award was presented to Chris Parillo, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and the best poster award was presented to Hannah Bygd, Luther College by Diana Gerbi of the IAB.

 

The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan and Sergei Nazarenko of the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

Session Sponsored by:
DiffuVision
Sabic Innovative Plastics
POLY Industrial Advisory Board
NSF REU Site for Sustainable Composites
University of Southern Mississippi

 

 

 

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Spring 2011, symposium and winners

 

The sixth annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the Anaheim National Meeting. There were twelve oral presentations and twelve posters from students from fifteen universities across the country. Sabic Innovative Plastics and Hunstman Polyurethanes sponsored Travel Awards for the top six preprints.

The POLY Division Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) sponsored best oral and best poster presentations. IAB representatives, Diana Gerbi and Travis Baughman were in attendance to present the Best Paper and Best Poster awards. The program included a career session with speakers from university, industry and national labs. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, The Society Committee on Education, and The University of Southern Mississippi and culminated with a joint
reception with the Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium. The two symposia were recognized as Presidential Events.

 

The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan and Sergei Nazarenko of the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

 Travel Award Winners:
Fadwa Constandinidis, Wright State University
Mark F. Fordney, University of Colorado
Daniel L. Harrison, Colorado School of Mines
Elizabeth E. Hwang, Williams College
Alexander J. Mijales, Texas A&M University
Adlina Paramarta, North Dakota State University

 

Best Paper
Daniel L. Harrison, Colorado School of Mines

Best Poster
Elizabeth E. Hwang, Williams College

 

 

 

 

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Spring 2010, symposium and winners

 The fifth annual Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium was held at the San Francisco ACS National Meeting.  There were eleven oral presentations and thirteen posters from students from nineteen universities across the country.  The National Science Foundation Department of Materials Research sponsored travel awards for the top ten preprints.  The POLY Division Industrial Advisory Board sponsored best oral and best poster presentations. The program was co-sponsored by POLY, The Society Committee on Education and The University of Southern Mississippi and culminated with a joint reception with the Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium.  The two symposia were recognized as Presidential Events.  The travel award winners are listed below.

 

The symposium was organized by Sarah Morgan and Sergei Nazarenko of the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

Travel Award Winners:
Brian Aguado, Stanford
Jennifer Chan, Georgia Tech
Christopher Childers, University of Evansville
Kenneth Drombosky, Akron Univeristy
Aaron Ham, Texas A&M University
Courtney Jenkins, St. Louis University
Jenny Lin, Pomona College
Brennen Mueller, University of Texas
John Swanson, California Polytechnic State University
Matthew Zhou, Williams College

The POLY IAB Award Winners:

Brian Aguado, Stanford

Jennifer Chan, Georgia Tech