Group Members
Graduate Students
Evan Chou
Cornell University - 2017 - B.S. Chemical Engineering
Hobbies: Anime, games, tennis, music, drawing, and writing
Specialization: Biomimicry, characterization of soft polymeric actuators for robotics, fabrication of new flexible electronic substrates
Daniel Verrico
Rochester Institute of Technology - 2019 - B.S. Chemistry w/ minor in Chemical Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Music, concerts, video games, wine tasting, naps
Specialization: Polymer/organic synthesis, epoxy aerogels, polyelectrolyte hydrogels, NMR spectroscopy
Nathan McMullen
University of Oklahoma - 2016 – B.S. Chemical Engineering
Hobbies/ Interests: Piano, trail running, cycling, sci-fi books
Specialization: Materials processing & structure-property relationships, mechanical performance of polymer materials, multi-layered co-extrusion.
Andrea Mael
CWRU - 2020 - BSE Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Frisbee, reading, yoga, cooking, games
Specialization: Polymer processing, mechanical testing, structure-property relationships
James Covello
CWRU - 2020 - Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies / Interests: Playing Magic the Gathering and the like, cooking, and looking after my kittens
Specialization: intumescence, polymer flammability, fire prevention
Special Mention: I and my coatings are vegan
Hector Gomez Jimenez
SUNY Oswego - 2019 - B.S Chemistry
Hobbies / Interests: Traveling, Culinary/Wine Tours, Weight Lifting, Anime/Sci-Fi Shows, Basketball, and Volleyball
Specialization: Organic Synthesis of Phenolic Resins, Pilot Scale Organic Synthesis, Characterization of Polymers through GPC/GC/Melt Point, and the In-Process Testing of Formaldehyde-Based Products
Zachary Baierl
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - 2016 - B.S. Materials Engineering
Hobbies / Interests: Cooking, Fencing, Cycling, Music, Reading, and Art
Specialization: Composite system development, processing and application; Melt and solid property testing
Joel Linebach
CWRU - 2022 - M.S. Macromolecular Science & Engineering
CWRU - 2021 - B.S. Polymer Science & Engineering
CWRU - 2021 - B.A. Dance
Hobbies/Interests: dancing, coffee, sudoku, cardigans, running
Fun Fact: I am concurrently working on also completing my M.F.A. in Contemporary Dance!
Specialization: Polymeric biomaterials, Multi-layered co-extrusion, Mechanical performance of polymers
Taher Hafiz
CWRU - 2015- Master’s Degree in Polymer Science & Engineering
Hobbies / Interests: loves Reading (Science, History, and Religion books) like swimming, Soccer, & Cooking Mediterranean Food.
Specialization: Superhydrophobic Coating for Marine Application, Iron Sulfide Scale Dissolver/Corrosion Inhibitor Using Functional Polymer, and Green Polymer for Fire Retardant/ Prevention
Special Mention: Nonmetallic Characterization and Failure Analysis.
Undergraduate Researchers
Brandon Chin
CWRU - 2023 - B.S.E. Candidate: Polymer Science & Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Cello, Cycling, Eating
Specialization: TPU hydrogel blends for biomaterial applications
Ananya Sahu
CWRU - 2023 - B.S.E. Candidate: Polymer Science & Engineering
Hobbies:. Cooking, crocheting, and visiting coffee shops
Specializations: TPE blends for biomaterial applications
Malavika Rajeev
CWRU - 2022 - B.S.E. Candidate: Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, eating, Netflix
Specialization: Polymer processing, polymer mechanical properties
Shivani Tijare
CWRU - 2023 - B.S.E Candidate: Polymer Science & Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, Painting, and Reading
Specialization: TPU hydrogel blends for biomaterial applications
Former Students
Erik Price
University of Florida- 2015 - B.S. Chemistry
University of Chicago - 2017 - M.S. Molecular Engineering
CWRU - 2020 - Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies: Sports, gaming, and Netflix
Specialization: Polymer synthesis, flame-retardant materials, Polymer processing
Claudio Souza
CWRU - 2020 - Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering
Federal University of Parana - 2006 - M.S. Chemistry with emphasis in industrial wastewater treatment
Federal University of Parana - 2004 - B.S. Chemistry
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, travelling, bicycling, and movies
Specialization: Material Processing, structure-property relationships, and industrial processes
Susan Kozawa
CWRU - 2020 - Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering
CWRU - 2016 - BSE Polymer Science and Engineering
CWRU - 2017 - M.S. Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Eating (especially Chick-fil-A), the arts, travelling, and more eating.
Specialization: Electrospinning, structure property relationships of hydrogels, and expansion microscopy
Anne Walker
CWRU - 2008 - BSE Polymer Science and Engineering
CWRU 2019 - Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Cycling, catching hamsters, and homebrewing
Specialization: Structure-property relationships, hydrogels
Mohammed Alanazi
CWRU 2019 - M.S. Polymer Science and Engineering
Swansea University - 2011 - B.S, Chemical and Bioprocess engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Archery, charity work, travelling, and the outdoors
Specialization: Rheology, multi-layered co-extrusion, entropic polymeric mixing
Yiming Zhang
Donghua University - 2019 - B.S.E. Polymer Materials and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Sports, music, cooking
Specialization: Supramolecular hydrogels, interpolymer complexes, and gel polymer electrolytes
Alexandra Vander Stouw
CWRU - 2019 - BSE Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, eating food, dancing, art
Specialization: PAA hydrogels, PVA microfluidics, PVA blend processing and mechanical testing
Yifei He
CWRU - 2020 - Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Gaming, Drawing, photography
Specialization: Poly (acrylic acid) fibers, Expansion Microscopy
Zachary Costantino
CWRU - 2021 - B.S.E. Candidate: Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Singing, Playing Piano, Reading, Running, Too much gaming
Specialization: Intumescent Materials
Penelope Jankoski
CWRU - 2021 - B.S.E Candidate: Polymer Science & Engineering.
Hobbies/Interests: Cooking and Baking, Yoga, Reading
Specialization: TPU hydrogel blends for biomaterial applications
Daniel Hopkins
Case Western Reserve University - 2019 - B.S.E. Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies: CWRU Ice Hockey, music
Specialization: Polymer Synthesis, Characterization, High-Performance Materials
Christina Brancel
CWRU - 2021 - Dual major B.S. Chemistry and B.A. Music
Hobbies:Interests: baking, writing, video games,
Specialization: Soft robotics
Jessica Zhou
CWRU - 2020 - BSE Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: free food, napping, tennis, instrumental music
Specialization: conductometric titration, hydrogels
Gillian Tierney
CWRU 2019 BSE Polymer Science & Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Eating/cooking food, travelling, Netflix, and dressing like the 90s
Specialization: PVA films, PAA hydrogels, and drug delivery
Andrew Tuchler
Case Western Reserve University - 2020 - B.S. Polymer Engineering
Hobbies: Water Polo, TV Shows, Cooking, Sleep.
Specialization: Flame Retardant Materials, Epoxy-based Intumescent coatings
Cassandra Tubbs
CWRU - 2020 - B.S.E. Candidate: Polymer Science and Engineering
Hobbies/Interests: Lacrosse, netflix, hiking
Specialization: Polymer processing, mechanical properties of polymer composites