We are an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at UT-Austin. We carry out fundamental and applied research in polymer science guided by the principles of simplicity, sustainability, and relevance to key technological challenges in chemical engineering for the 21st century in energy, environment, security, and materials for healthcare. Synthesis is the primary tool that we use to answer fundamental questions, and bring to bear in applied research projects. However, modeling efforts may be used to facilitate materials design, and to provide context for the interpretation of data. Particularly, we are engaged in research efforts that create and utilize new functional and reactive polyether materials and block polymers. Newer work is built on a foundation of novel techniques for advanced copolymer structure determination and detailed mechanistic understanding which facilitate the compositional control of structure-property-processing relationships. Currently, expression of our approach to polymer science is exercised in these areas:

1. Compositional control of functional polyethers thru new catalyst development
2. Synthesis and characterization of ultra-high molecular weight water-soluble polymers
3. Synthesis and characterization of cryopreservative polymers for frozen storage of cells and tissue