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The recipient of the 2007 National Starch & Chemical Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Chemistry is Dr. Jason Rolland, who received his doctorate in 2005 from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, under the direction of Professor Joseph M. DeSimone. Dr. Rolland's Ph.D. dissertation research focused on novel applications for perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs), primarily in the field of nanotechnology.

A versatile technique, Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates, or "PRINT(TM)" was developed that uses low surface energy PFPEs, cast onto nano-featured master templates and cured to form transparent fluoroelastomers. These become molds containing billions of nano-scale cavities that can be filled with liquid precursors that are solidified and harvested to yield highly monodisperse populations of shape-specific, engineered nano-scale particles. PRINT(TM) has tremendous promise in several applications including delivery of therapeutics such as siRNA and drugs for cancer treatment.

In addition to the PRINT process, PFPE elastomers can be patterned with micron and nanometer sized features and used as molds for imprint lithography. In collaboration with IBM researchers, Dr. Rolland showed that features as small as 70 nm can be replicated in organic resins with 1 nm precision using PFPE molds. The PFPE molds are superior in terms of resolution, release, and compatibility when compared to either poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) or rigid materials.

Multifunctional PFPE formulations were also synthesized and used to fabricate transparent, elastomeric, microfluidic devices compatible with organic solvents and chemical reagents. These replace PDMS, which swells in most organic solvents and is not compatible with microchemistry platforms. Multilayer, complex microfluidic chips containing pneumatic valves were fabricated from PFPE materials. Due to their compatibility with chemistry platforms, PFPE-based microfluidic chips have recently been used in the synthesis of radiolabelled biomarkers, such as [F-18] 2-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose for PET imaging.

The award was be presented at a symposium in Dr. Rolland's honor in the Division of Polymer Chemistry at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Boston August 19-23, 2007.

The recipient of the 2006 National Starch & Chemical Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Dr. Jiaxing Huang, who received his doctorate in 2004 from the University of California, Los Angeles, under the direction of Professor Richard B. Kaner. Dr. Huang's Ph.D. dissertation research led him to discoveries on the synthesis of high-quality polyaniline nanofibers with major impact in the fields of conducting polymers and nanoscience. These have led to advances in conducting polymer sensors, molecular memory devices and flash welding. He applied interfacial polymerization to produce uniform nanofibers without the need for difficult-to-remove templates, and demonstrated that these nanofibers could be used as sensors to detect parts-per-million or less of many acids and bases. Following his elucidation of the fiber formation mechanism, he developed a method to create a stable colloidal dispersion of the nanofibers, suitable for processing to films or other forms, resolving a major roadblock to the widespread use of these materials. He discovered that the nanofibers could undergo wavelength and intensity dependent crosslink photo-thermal chemistry to form nanofiber connections, asymmetric films, photopatterns and polymer composites, and demonstrated that polyaniline nanofibers decorated with gold particles can serve as the active component in a device with a three order of magnitude change in conductivity between on and off states, and read, write, erase cycles at low voltages. The Award, which will be presented at the San Francisco meeting of the American Chemical Society (Sept. 10-14), consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 to recognize and encourage outstanding graduate research in polymer science and engineering. It is sponsored by National Starch & Chemical Co., a global manufacturer of adhesives, specialty polymers, electronic materials and specialty starches.

Note: From 1991-2003 this award was sponsored by the Unilever Co.

Warren Ford reports that the recipient of the 2003 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Dr. Christopher W. Bielawski, who received his doctorate in October 2002 from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA under the direction of Professor Robert H. Grubbs. Dr. Bielawski's research efforts were directed toward establishing new concepts and strategies in macromolecular synthesis through the development of designer Ru catalysts. For example, the efficient synthesis of copolymers with segments that require two or more different polymeriza-tion techniques remains challenging as multiple steps are usually necessary. To circumvent this drawback, Bielawski developed a series of catalysts that are capable of simultaneously mediating two mechanistically distinct polymerizations (i.e., ring-opening metathesis polymerization and atom-transfer radical polymerization). This has enabled the preparation of a variety of complex block copolymers in a single pot. A second aspect of Bielawski's research was focused on the synthesis of cyclic polymers. Traditionally, such polymers are made through the intramolecular coupling of linear precursors. However, such cyclizations are rarely quantitative and extremely dilute conditions are required which places limits on the ability to prepare substantial amounts of pure cyclic polymer. By adding monomer to a "cyclic" catalyst, Bielawski demonstrated that both ends of the growing polymer chain remain attached to the catalyst so the topology of polymer remains cyclic throughout the entire reaction.

The recipient of the 2002 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Dr. Kristi L. Kiick, who received her doctorate in May 2001 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, under the tutelage of Professor David A. Tirrell, now of the California Institute of Technology, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Kiick directed her research to the preparation of proteins using non- natural amino acids, with functional groups different from those of the natural amino acids. She manipulated the activity of a single enzyme in the bacterial host to prepare engineered proteins with novel chemical and physical properties. Her investigations focused on replacing the amino acid methionine with methionine analogues that carry chemical groups that are unusual in biology, such as alkenes, alkynes, and azides. Engineering E. coli to produce extra copies of methionyl-tRNA synthetase ? the enzyme that controls the fidelity of methionine incorporation into proteins ? allowed methionine to be replaced by six different methionine analogues normally rejected by the bacterial host. This simple modification to the bacterial host also increased the yields of protein obtained during protein expression. These investigations confirm the critical role of MetRS in controlling analogue incorporation and suggest new strategies for incorporating non-natural amino acids into proteins to create novel classes of protein-based materials. The Unilever Award, which will be presented at the Boston, MA, meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 18-22) consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers. The award symposium and presentation will take place at the ACS National Meeting in Boston August 18-22 2002.

The recipient of the 2001 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Dr. Shu Yang, Ph.D. Advisor:, , who received her doctorate in August 1999 under the tutelage of Professor Christopher K. Ober of Cornell University, Materials Science & Engineering Department. Her research lead to the creation of "reworkable" thermosets that contain specially designed weak links that decompose at low temperatures to permit network breakdown. These thermosets, now licensed, are proving to be of great interest to the microelectronics industry where adhesives that are robust under normal use, but can be removed under specific conditions, are highly desirable. In her thesis research, she also designed new photoresists with fluorine and silicon-containing units for use in next generation lithographies. Her superb synthetic skills enabled her to prepare these photoresists for development with supercritical CO2. This solvent, along with its environmental friendliness, offers many intriguing properties for photolithography and includes low viscosity and no surface tension - important properties for developing the smallest features in a patterned image. Dr. Yang, working with another student, was able to invent new fluoropolymers that could be patterned with a resolution of ~0.2 µm, in the size range of the best experimental resists yet produced.

The Unilever Award, which will be presented at the Chicago, IL, meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 26-30) consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science and Engineering in 2000 was given to Linda Chen for research on rod-coil block copolymers that phase separate at unusual length scales. She earned the Ph.D. at the University of Rochester with Prof. Samson Jenekhe. The award symposium at the Washington ACS National Meeting in the Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering drew a large and lively audience.

The recipient of the 1999 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Scott G. Gaynor, who received his doctorate under the tutelage of Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. His doctoral dissertation focused on the preparation of polymeric materials with novel architectures (branched, hyperbranched, graft) using the controlled/"living" radical polymerization technique, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). He demonstrated that highly functionalized, highly branched, but uncrosslinked, polymers could be readily obtained by radical polymerization. His graduate research also involved the development of new ATRP catalyst systems and ATRP techniques which can readily prepare a wide range of materials, including telechelic polymers, amphiphilic copolymers, wholly acrylic thermoplastic elastomers, block copolymers of condensation and vinyl polymers. These new materials synthesized by ATRP are expected to find uses in numerous applications where well-defined composition, architecture and/or functionality is desired. The Unilever Award, which will be presented at the New Orleans meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 22-26) consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The recipient of the 1998 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is James J. Watkins, who received his doctorate under the guidance of Professor Thomas J. McCarthy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

His doctoral dissertation involved high pressure chemical synthesis, materials characterization, and chemical engineering polymer processing aspects of a new approach to make advanced polymer materials. The approach takes advantage of the observation that virtually all polymers are swollen to some extent in supercritical CO2, in order to use this medium for reactions to modify the swollen polymer. For example, a polymer composite may be formed by in situ polymerization of monomers dissolved in the swollen polymer, providing the possibility for the synthesis of a wide range of multicomponent compositions. Control of the morphology of the composite is provided through reaction temperatures, times, concentrations, etc. The Unilever Award, which will be presented at the Boston meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 22-26, 1998), consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The recipient of the 1997 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Dong-Yu Kim, who received his doctorate under the guidance of Professor Sukant Tripathy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. His doctoral dissertation involved photoinduced dynamics in polymers below the glass transition temperature in the formation of surface relief gratings induced in polymers containing azobenzene side groups. These gratings have potential use in information storage by holography, and the studies have resulted in number of publications and a patent application. He was awarded B.S. and M.S. degrees from Seoul University, and worked for three years as a Research Scientist at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Seoul before joining Professor Tripathy's research group. His work at KAIST resulted in a patent on the use of liquid crystalline polymers in storage medial. The Unilever Award, was presented at the Las Vegas meeting of the American Chemical Society (Sep. 7-11) consisted of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The recipient of the 1996 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Kristi S. Anseth. Dr. Anseth, now a Research Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, received her doctorate under the guidance of Professor Christopher N. Bowman at the University of Colorado at Boulder, working on reaction mechanisms and polymer structure evolution in the photo-polymerizations of multifunctional monomers. Her doctoral dissertation, which involved experimental and theoretical investigations of crosslinking reactions and the polymer structure formed, has already resulted in a number of publications. She was awarded a B. S. (Chem. Eng.) with Highest Distinction by Purdue University in 1992. Dr. Anseth has received a number of awards and honors during her academic career, including a National Science Foundation Fellowship and an NIH National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Unilever Award, which will be presented at the Orlando meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 25-29), consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The recipient of the 1995 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Rangaramanujan M. Kannan. Dr. Kannan, currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. Dr. Kannan obtained his doctorate under the guidance of Prof. Julia A Kornfield at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena where he worked on the development of rheo-optical methods to study dynamics in complex polymer melts. Dr. Kannan did his undergraduate work at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India where he was a National Merit Scholar. He holds Master's degrees from Pennsylvania State University and California Institute of Technology. While at the California Institute of Technology, he was DuPont Graduate Fellow and a Charles Lee Powell Foundation Graduate Fellow. The award, which was presented at the Chicago meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 1995) consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered by the Polymer Education Committee of the Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Divisions, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.

The recipient of the 1994 Unilever Award for Outstanding Graduate Research is Timothy J. Deming, currently a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Deming obtained his doctorate under the guidance of Prof. Bruce M. Novak at the University of California, Berkeley where he worked on the development of well-defined transition metal complexes for the living polymerization of isocyanides, butadiene and other unsaturated monomers. Dr. Deming did his undergraduate work at the University of California, Irvine, where he received the Donald L. Bunker Memorial Award, was a University of California President's Undergraduate Fellow and graduated magna cum laude. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Lambda Upsilon. The award, which will be presented at the Wahington meeting of the American Chemical Society (Aug. 21-26) consists of a $2,000 prize, a plaque and travel expenses. This award, administered POLYED, was established in 1991 and is sponsored by Unilever, a global manufacturer of consumer products, foods and specialty chemicals. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding graduate research in the design, synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers.