Ph.D. and M.S. Theses

2023-2024

Ph.D.

  • Hanyi Duan (Advisor: J. He) “Patchy Plasmonic  Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Self-Assembly in Solution”
  • Tianjian Yang (Advisor: Y. Lin) “Biomimetic Supramolecular Materials Assembled from Synthetic Polypeptides”
  • Jiuzhou Zhao (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Layer-by-layer Assembled Polyamide for Endogenous Redox-active Interference Molecules Rejection”

2022-2023

Ph.D.

  • Catherine Cheu (Advisor: M. Nieh) “Small Angle Scattering Modeling for Analyzing Refined Internal Structures of Lipid Nanodiscs (Bicelles)”
  • Zaili Hou (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Hybrid Functional Materials with Multiscale Architecture Design”
  • Chung-Hao Liu (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Encapsulation and Polymerization in The Fluid Phase of a Well-Defined Bicellar Template”

2021-2022

Ph.D.

  • Ajinkya Deshmukh (Advisor: G. Sotzing) Design, Synthesis and Characterization of All-Organic Polymer Dielectrics for High Temperature Energy Storage Applications”
    • Stephen Ekatan (Advisor: Y, Lin) “Material Properties of Complex Synthetic Macromolecules Containing Secondary Structures”
    • Danielle Heichel (Advisor: K. Burke) “Design and Synthesis of Silk Fibroin Conjugates for Cell and Tissue Interfaces”
    • Sean McDermott (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Design, Synthesis and Characterization of All-Organic Polymer Dielectrics for High Temperature Energy Storage Applications”

    2020-2021

    Ph.D.

    • Elizabeth Brown (Advisor: D. Adamson) Graphene as a Two-Dimensional Surfactant: Influence on Emulsion and Composite Morphology and Properties”
    • Feiyang Chen (Advisor: D. Adamson) Graphene Stabilized Water-in-Oil Emulsion: From Liquid to Solid Application”
    • Stephen Ekatan(Advisor: Y. Lin) Material Properties of Complex Synthetic Macromolecules Containing Secondary Structures”
    • Danielle Heichel (Advisor: K. Burke) Design and Synthesis of Silk Fibroin Conjugates for Cell and Tissue Interfaces”
    • Garrett Kraft (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Templating The Formation Of Multidimensional Hybrid Materials And Composites”
    • Ngoc Chau Vy (Advisor: D. Adamson) Controlling Dispersity of Polymer Brushes for Salt-Selective and Biologically Relevant Applications”

          2019-2020

          Ph.D.

          • Matthew Baczkowski (Advisor: G. Sotzing) Exploration of Conjugated Polymers and Electroactive Small Molecules within Electrochromic Devices”
          • Sonia Chavez (Advisor: L. Sun) “One-Step Coassembly of Nanocoatings and Effects of the Deposition Methods”
          • Dongliang “Moses” Wang (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Liquid-crystal Organization in Perm-selective Membranes for Long Term Stable Enzymatic Sensors”

          2018-2019

          Ph.D.

          • Joon-Sung Kim (Advisor: A. Asandei)  “New Synthetic Methodologies for Complex PVDF Architectures”
          • Harish Kumar (Advisor: D. Adamson)   “Characterization of Graphene Oxide”
          • Sneh Sinha (Advisor: G. Sotzing)   “Organic Conductive Polymers as Printed Electronics on Fabrics”

          M.S.

          • Zachary Bauman (Advisor: A. Ma)    “hBN-Acrylate Composite Printing: Stereolithography and UV-Assisted Direct Write”

          2017-2018

          Ph.D.

          • Mengfang Li (Advisor: G. Sotzing)    “Conjugated Polymer-Based Functional Materials for Wearable Electronics: Electrochromism”
          • Lalit Mahajan (Advisor: R. Kasi)    “Molecular Engineering of Hybrid Liquid Crystalline Brush-like Block Copolymers: Hierarchical Self-assembly and Application in Photonics”
          • Gregory Treich (Advisor: G. Sotzing)    “A Materials Genome Approach to the Design, Synthesis, and Testing of High Energy Density Dielectric Materials for Capacitor Applications”
          • Vignesh Vasu (Advisor: A. Asandei) “Precision Synthesis of Complex Macromolecular Architectures of Gaseous Monomers and Their Property Studies”
          • Xiaozheng Zhang(Advisor: G. Sotzing) Gel Electrolyte Optimization and Color TuningNeutrality for Electronic Applications”

          2016-2017

          Ph.D.

          • Jennifer Bento (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Synthesis and Modification of Pristine Graphene Composites”
          • Nhi Minh Doan (advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Microfluidics and Permselective Membranes for Biosensors”
          • Yang Guo (Advisor: A. Ma) “Flexible and Stretchable Electronics: From Materials to Fabrication”
          • Garrett Kraft (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Templating The Formation Of Multidimensional Hybrid Materials And Composites”
          • Huseini Patanwala (Advisor: A. Ma) “Polymer Nanocomposites and Biomaterials: From Chemical Cross-linking to 3D Printing”

          2015-2016

          Ph.D.

          • Rui Ma (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Simulation Guided Synthesis and Processing of Polymer Dielectrics”
          • Christopher Simpson (Advisor: A. Asandei) “Transition Metal Mediated Controlled Polymerizations of 1,3-Dienes, and Main Chain Fluorinated Monomers; Towards the Synthesis of Complex Macromolecular Structures”

          2014-2015

          Ph.D.

          • Banshali Kanjilal (Advisor: R. Parnas)“Fermentative Production Of 1,3-Propanediol From Industrial Glycerol And Its Pervaporative Enrichment From Aqueous Mixtures”
          • Zhe Li (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Photo-crosslinkable O2-riched PEGylated Terpolymer for Long-term Enhanced Glucose Sensing”
          • Zhenhua Cui (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Boron Nitride Nanosheets and Their Applications in Polymeric Composites”

          2013-2014

          Ph.D.

          • Hyun-Sook Jang (Advisor: M-P. Nieh) “Principles of Structure-Function Relationships Applicable to Sensing Materials – Explosives and Bio-Diagnosis”
          • Ying Sun (Advisor: S. Boggs) “Computation of Intrinsic Breakdown based on Computational Quantum Mechanics”
          • Aaron Baldwin (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Synthesis of Next Generation Dielectric Materials through Rational Exploration of Chemical Space”

          2012-2013

          Ph.D.

          • Olumide Adebolu (Advisor: A. Asandei) “New Methodologies in the Controlled Polymerization of Main Chain Fluorinated Monomers and Cyclic Esters”
          • Prashant Deshmukh (Advisor: R. Kasi) “Molecular Engineering of Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Brush Copolymers for Photonic and Nanoporous Membrane Applications”
          • Andrew J. Oyer (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Exfoliation and Chemical Modification of Natural Flake Graphite”
          • Chetan Hire (Advisor: D. Adamson) “Condensation of Ceramics Using Block Copolymer Mimic of Silicaten-α”
          • Ranjan Kamat (Advisor: Y. Lin) “Adsorption, Diffusion and Activity of Polycatalytic Cellulase-Nanoparticle Conjugates”
          • Donna Mamangun (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Surfactant-modified DNA and Conjugated Polymers for Photonic Applications”
          • Liangliang Qiang (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Highly Sensitive and Long Term Stable Electrochemical Microelectrodes for Implantable Glucose Monitoring Devices”

          M.S.

          • Rodrigo Ojeda Mota (Advisor: R. Parnas) “Epoxy Films as Adhesives for Mask Cleaning in Photolithography Process”

          2011 – 2012

          Ph.D.

          • Yujie Ding (Advisor: G.Sotzing) “In Situ Polymerization of Conjugated Polymers and Development of All-organic Electrochromic Fabric”
          • Sudsiri Hemsri (Advisor: R. Parnas) “Application of Wheat Gluten in Polymer Composites and Composite Particleboard”
          • Ki-Ryong Lee (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Conjugated Polymers from Precursors and Their Applications”
          • Daminda Navarathne (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Conjugated Polymers and DNA for Photovoltaic and Photonic Applications”
          • Chitrabala Subramanian (Advisor: M.T. Shaw) “Nanofiber-based Composite Structures for Ion-exchange Applications”
          • Hongying Zhao (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Viscoelastic Behavior of Low Molecular Weight Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers”

          M.S.

          • Rubinder Kaur Lakhman (Advisor: R. Kasi) “A Study of End-functionalized Polylactide based Thin Films for Biomedical Applications”

          2010 – 2011

          Ph.D.

          • Jonathan Doll (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “The Low-Temperature Redox-Assisted Seeded Growth of CdSe Nanocrystals”
          • Fangxiao Guan (Advisor: L. Zhu) “Confined Ferroelectric Properties in Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-Based Homopolymer, Copolymers and Graft Copolymers and Their Application in Electric Energy Storage”
          • Jong Hyun Park (Advisor: G.A. Sotzing) “Inkjet Printing of Metal Nanoparticles and Conducting Polymers onto Flexible Substrates and Their Applications”
          • David P. Penaloza, Jr. (Advisor: T. Seery) “Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer-Clay Systems Prepared by Surface-Initiated Polymerization”
          • Tais Pimentel (Advisor: P. Burkhard) “Self-assembling Polypeptide Nanoparticles: Design, Synthesis, Biophysical Characterization and Biomedical Applications”
          • Nitin Sharma (Advisor: R. Kasi) “Solution Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers: Towards Solid-State Electrolyte Applications”
          • Shih-Po Sun (Advisor: M.T. Shaw) “A Pultrusion Process for Preparing High-strength, High-modulus Bone Graft that is Biodegradable”
          • Yongkun Yang (Advisor: P. Burkhard) “Self-assembling Polypeptide Nanoparticles: Their Biophysical Properties, Refolding Conditions, and Potential Biomedical Applications”
          • Yuxiang Zhou (Advisor: R. Kasi) “Design of Advanced Materials by Exploiting Hierarchically-Structured Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers”

          M.S.

          • Dipendra Kundu (Advisor: R. Parnas) “Synthesis of a Polyethylene Membrane Support by Electrospinning – Optimization of the Parameters Involved”

          2009 – 2010

          Ph.D.

          • Chris Asemota (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Nanofiber Processing for Improving Conducting Polymer Electrochromic Speeds and Nanofiber Alignment by Electrospinnig”
          • Jan-Michael Y. Carrillo (Advisor: E. Dobrynin) “Computational Studies of Polymeric Systems”
          • Jia Choi (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “A Precursor Approach to Conducting Polymers and its Application to Micro/Nano-fabrication of Conducting Polymers”
          • Tanmoy Dey (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “p-Conjugated Polymers for Electrochromic and Photovoltaic Applcations”
          • Michael A. Invernale (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Electrochromic Polymers and Their Devices: From Windows to Fabric”
          • Gerald H. Ling (Advisor: M. Shaw) “Fabrication and the Rheology of Crystalline Polyethylene Microgels for Thermo-responsive Suspensions”
          • Xiaowen Zhai (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Wetting/Dewetting Behavior of Lightly Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers on Solid Surfaces”

          M.S.

          • Benjamin Colby (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Synthesis of Sulfonated Poly(Lactic Acid) Ionomers”
          • David Melanson (Advisor: R. Weiss) “A One-Step Extrusion Process for the Preparation of Nanocomposites Comprising Poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) Ionomers and Natural Montmorillonite”
          • Vincent Ustach (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Efficacy of electropolmerized poly(o-phenylenediamine) and poly(phenol) as long term permselective membranes for biosensor application”

          2008 – 2009

          • Ph.D.
          • Jayesh Bokira (Advisor: G. Sotzing) “Versatile Route for Syntheses of pi-Conjugated Polymers and Device Fabrication”
          • Yanhui Chen (Advisor: A. Asandei) “New Initiators and Catalysts for Living Radical and Ring Opening Polymerizations”
          • Sangyong Ju (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Falvin-Derived Seld-Organization and Chirality Separation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes”
          • Donghun Koo (Advisor: Sung) “The Characterization of Stated of Water in Nifon and the Relationship between States of Water and Nifon Properties”
          • Laura McGrath (Advisor: R. Parnas) “Effects of Fillers and Filler Interface on Fracture Toughness of Epoxy-Alumina Composites”
          • Andrew Ro (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Synethesis of Poly(lactic acid) lonomers”
          • Shurui Shang (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Synthesis of Comb-like Copolymers from Renewable resources: Itaconic Anhydride, Stearyl Methacrylate and Lactic Acid”
          • Ravikumar Vijayaraghavan (Advisor: Sung) “Non-destructive FTIR Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) Studies on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyimides and Water Diffusion in Epoxies”
          • Sagar Vaddiraju (Advisor: F. Papadimitrakopoulos) “Sensitivity, Linearity and Reliable Enhancement of Implantable Glucose Sensors”

          M.S.

          • Scott Kennedy (Advisor: R. Weiss) “Aging Behavior of Polyetherimide-Montmorillinonite Based Nanocomposite Materials”