Thomas H. Epps, III
Bachelors – 1998 MIT,
Masters – 1999 MIT (Practice School),
Doctorate – 2004 University of Minnesota,
Post-Doctorate – 2006 NRC Postdoctoral Fellow – NIST,
University of Delaware (UD)
Allen & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering (affiliated)
Director, UD, Center for Research in Soft matter and Polymers (CRiSP)
Director, UD MRSEC, Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (CHARM)
Deputy-Director, DOE EFRC, Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI)
Lignolix, Inc.
Co-founder
Chief Scientific Officer
Email: Thomas H. Epps, III
Alex Balzer
Bachelors – 2015 North Carolina State University
Doctorate – 2022 Georgia Institute of Technology
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Center for Plastics Innovation (co-advised by Dr. LaShanda Korley)
In his Ph.D., Alex worked with Dr. Natalie Stingelin at Georgia Tech on structure-property interrelations for polymers in photonics and electronics. He worked on high refractive index polymer hybrids and advanced calorimetric techniques for semiconducting polymers. Alex joined the Center for Plastics Innovation in May 2022 as a post-doctoral researcher working on valorizing plastic waste. Outside of research, Alex enjoys playing several sports and is an avid golfer.
Email: Alex Balzer
Eric Gottlieb
Bachelors – 2013 Carnegie Mellon University
Doctorate – 2018 Carnegie Mellon University
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Epps group
During his bachelors, Eric worked with Prof. Rongchao Jin on synthesis and characterization of gold nanoclusters. In his Ph.D., he worked with Prof. Tomasz Kowalewski and Prof. David Yaron on characterization, applications, and electronic structure modeling of heteroatom doped carbon nanostructures. In July of 2018, Eric joined the Epps group as a post-doctoral researcher working on nanostructured polymer characterization, control, and applications. Outside of research, Eric enjoys cooking, exercising, and building stuff.
Email: Eric Gottlieb
Garrett BassBachelors – 2014 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Doctorate – 2019 The University of Akron
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Epps group
While completing his bachelors in biochemistry, Garrett worked with Prof. Phil Costanzo on RAFT polymerization of surfactants for carbon nanotube dispersion. In 2015 he joined Dr. Matthew Becker at the University of Akron developing bottlebrush block copolymers for templating applications. After moving to Duke University with the Becker lab in 2019, he finished his Ph.D. on the synthesis and 3D-printing of poly(propylene fumarate) derivatives for tissue engineering applications. Garrett joined the Epps group in December 2020 as a post-doctoral researcher focused on developing lignin feedstocks for value-added materials. Outside of lab, he enjoys hiking and playing volleyball.
Email: Garrett Bass
Mridula NandiBachelors – 2013 Lady Brabourne College (University of Calcutta)
Masters – 2015 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
Doctorate – 2019 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Epps group (co-advised by Dr. LaShanda Korley)
During her Masters, Mridula worked with Prof. Priyadarsi De on preparation of amino acids based hydrogels and on the study of their mechanical and structural properties. She continued her Doctoral research work with Prof. Priyadarsi De focussing on the preparation of amino acid, fatty acid based polymers with different polymeric architectures and on the study of solution properties (supramolecular self-assembly, stimuli-responsiveness). In 2020, she joined the research group of Prof. David Díaz Díaz as a visiting post-doctoral researcher working on hydrogel actuators. In May of 2021, she joined the Epps Research group as a post-doctoral researcher focussed on developing biobased, thermosetting materials. Outside of research, she enjoys travelling, upcycling old items, organizing, and watching movies.
Email: Mridula Nandi
Tianwei YanBachelors – 2016 Peking University
Doctorate – 2021 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Center for Plastics Innovation (co-advised by Dr. LaShanda Korley)
During his bachelors, Tianwei worked with Prof. Jian Pei on synthesis of conjugated conducting polymers. In 2016, he started his Ph.D. with Prof. Damien Guironnet at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Here, Tianwei studied post-polymerization modification of polyolefins in order to synthesize di- and triblock amphiphilic copolymers containing polyethylene and polypropylene blocks. In June 2021, Tianwei joined Center for Plastics Innovation as a post-doctoral researcher working on valorizing plastic waste. Outside of research, Tianwei enjoys reading and playing video games.
Email: Tianwei Yan
Zachary HintonBachelors – 2014 Rowan University
Doctorate – 2020 Drexel University
Current Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Center for Plastics Innovation (co-advised by Dr. LaShanda Korley)
During his bachelors, Zach worked with Profs. Kevin Dahm and William Riddell on design and characterization of polymeric thermal energy collectors. In his Ph.D., he worked with Prof. Nicolas Alvarez on surfactant transport to high pressure interfaces as well as rheological characterization of transient polymer networks and design of high performance thermoplastic composites. In December of 2020, Zach joined the Center for Plastics Innovation as a post-doctoral researcher working on valorizing plastic waste. Outside of research, Zach enjoys exploring new cuisines and studying history and linguistics.
Email: Zachary Hinton
Priyanka KetkarBachelors – 2016 University of Minnesota – Twin Cities,
Current Graduate Student.
Priyanka joined the Epps group in fall of 2016. Her passion to help the environment motivated her research interest in block copolymer electrolyte materials for lithium ion batteries. Outside of lab, Priyanka enjoys traveling, learning new languages, playing violin, and recreational sports.
Email: Priyanka Ketkar
Introduction Video
Esther RohBachelors – 2017 Columbia University,
Current Graduate Student (co-advised by Dr. Millicent O. Sullivan).
Esther joined the Epps group in fall of 2017. Her interest in personalized health care has motivated her to focus her research on drug delivery methods via stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles. Outside of research, Esther enjoys travelling with family and friends, eating, playing board/video games with others and exploring new cities.
Email: Esther Roh
Introduction Video
Robert O’DeaBachelors – 2015 University of Pittsburgh,
Current Graduate Student.
Robert joined the Epps group in December of 2017. His research involves bio-based polymers with a focus on block polymers for lithium-ion battery membrane technology. Outside of the lab, Robert enjoys hiking, travelling, and photography.
Email: Robert O’Dea
Introduction Video
Jignesh MahajanBachelors – 2016 Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Masters – 2018 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Current Graduate Student (co-advised by Prof. LaShanda Korley).
Jignesh has worked on electrospinnability of ultra-high molecular weight polypropylene (UHMWPP) for his master’s thesis under the supervision of Prof. Anup K. Ghosh (IIT Delhi) and Dr. V. K. Gupta (Reliance Industries Ltd., Mumbai). He also has worked on life cycle assessment, shear thickening fluids, and lignocellulosic fibers and their composites. He joined Epps group in fall 2018. His research involves design and development of bio-based polymers and processing, with a focus on application development. Outside lab, he likes to listen to music and travel.
Email: Jignesh Mahajan
Introduction Video
Mruthula RammohanBachelors – 2019 Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Current Graduate Student (co-advised by Dr. Millicent O. Sullivan).
Mruthula joined the Epps group in fall of 2019. Her research focuses on drug delivery through skin via stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles. Outside of lab, Mruthula enjoys cooking, doodling, and modern calligraphy.
Email: Mruthula Rammohan
Introduction Video
Maida MahmoodBachelors – 2016 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
Current Graduate Student (Co-advised by Dr. LaShanda Korley).
Maida has joined Epps group in the Fall of 2019. Her research will be oriented towards development and characterization of bio-based polymers. Outside of research she is an avid admirer of art and music.
Email: Maida Mahmood
Introduction Video
Mengying (Sara) YangBachelors – 2019 Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
Current Graduate Student.
Sara joined the Epps Group in fall of 2019. Her interest in helping the world energy issue has motivated her to pursue the research on lithium-ion batteries. Outside of research, Sara enjoys playing tennis, traveling and hanging out with friends.
Email: Mengying (Sara) Yang
Introduction Video
Sampanna MhatreBachelors – 2018 Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Current Graduate Student (co-advised by Prof. LaShanda Korley).
After his bachelor’s focused on polymers and coatings, Sampanna got around 2.5 years of industrial research experience in the field of Epoxy resin and hardeners. He joined the Epps group in November 2020 where his work will be oriented towards the Renewable Polymers and Plastics Upcycling effort. Outside of research, Sampanna likes to play harmonica and listen to music.
Email: Sampanna Mhatre
Alison ShapiroBachelors – 2020 Johns Hopkins University
Current Graduate Student
Alison joined the Epps group in the fall of 2021. Her interest in sustainable materials motivated her to pursue research on the design and characterization of biobased polymers. Outside the lab, Alison enjoys swimming, skiing, hiking, reading, and spending time with friends.
Email: Alison Shapiro
Jamael AjahBachelors – 2017 Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Masters – 2020 African University of Science and Technology, Abuja
Current Graduate Student
Jamael is interested in the beauty of the interplay between polymer science and catalysis. He is particularly interested in lignin-based polymers.
Other awesome things Jamael likes to do include singing in his room, listening to music, cooking, reading fine novels, and most importantly, connecting with amazing people.
Email: Jamael Ajah
Sonia LiBachelors – 2021 University of Minnesota Duluth
Current Graduate Student
Sonia joined the Epps group in the spring of 2022. Her current interests revolve around synthesizing biobased polymers from lignin. Outside of lab, she enjoys rock climbing, learning new languages, and hanging out with friends.
Email:Sonia Li
Scott SampsonUndergraduate Student,
University of Delaware (class of 2023)
Scott is a junior chemical engineering student with minor in materials science. He is working on method optimization of thin film nanostructures with Eric. Outside of research, Scott is a varsity goalkeeper for the UD Men’s Soccer team, Munson Fellow (a freshmen mentor) in the Honors College, and is also heavily involved as a leader for InterVarsity (Christian student fellowship). He is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and enjoys yard games (corn hole), hiking, ultimate frisbee, climbing, and sailing.
Email: Scott Sampson
Introduction Video
Henry (Tre) Bartony IIIUndergraduate Student,
University of Delaware (Class of 2023)
Henry (Tre) Bartony III is a chemical engineering student at the University of Delaware (class of 2023). He joined the Epps group in Summer 2021. His research in the Epps group is focused on 3D printing and polymerization of lignin derived polymers. Besides chemical engineering, Tre enjoys playing golf, guitar, and piano.
Email: Henry (Tre) Bartony III
Allison RobbinsUndergraduate Student,
University of Delaware (Class of 2022)
Allison is a Chemical Engineering major at the University of Delaware, with minors in Food Science and Chemistry. She joined the Epps group in the summer of 2021, and is researching the production of lignin polymers from municipal solid waste. Aside from research, Allison enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and spending time with friends.
Email: Allison Robbins
Li Pei SohUndergraduate Student,
University of Delaware (Class of 2022)
Li Pei is from Malaysia and is a chemical engineering major at the University of Delaware with minor in Economics and Mathematics. Her research in the Epps group is lignin derived polymers from various biomass feedstocks. Aside from research, Li Pei loves traveling, cooking, food hunting, and also listening to music.
Email: Li Pei Soh
Aynur Guliyeva, Ph.D. – Post-doctoral researcher, PIMM-CNRS, ENSAM, CNAM, Paris, France
Craig Machado, Ph.D. – PPG, CA
Greg Peterson, Ph.D. – U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD
Alice Amitrano – Graduate student, Johns Hopkins University
Paula Pranda – Graduate student, University of Colorado Boulder
Manisha Ahir, Ph.D. – Post-doctoral researcher, Baylor College of Medicine
Antigoni Konstantinou – Graduate student, University of Connecticut
Kayla Lantz, Ph.D. – Assistant professor, Fairmont State University
Jordan Willie
Christine Castagna
Chao Wang, Ph.D. – PPG Industries
Seung Sung, Ph.D. – LG Electronics
Dajeong Kim
Melody Morris, Ph.D. – Post-doctoral researcher, MIT
James Mannino – BS (UD 2019), W. L. Gore & Associates
Silvia Grama, Ph.D. – nanoComposix
Sophia Freaney
Yi Shi
Kaleigh Nicastro – MS (UD 2018)
Victoria Muir – BS (UD 2018), University of Pennsylvania PhD Student
Rashida Ruddock – MS (UD 2018)
Shu Wang, Ph.D. – Bridgestone Americas
Thu Vi, Ph.D. – Dow Chemical Company
Maura Swift
Grace Kresge – REU Student, Princeton
Shelby Babcock – REU Student, Arizona State University
Thomas Gartner
Cameron Shelton, Ph.D. – Dow Chemical Company
Chad Greco, Ph.D. – Gilead Sciences
Jack Saltwick – BS (UD 2017)
Jason Andrechak – BS (UD 2017), University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. student
Laurens Heusele – MS (UD 2017)
Emma De Baets – MS (UD 2017)
George Wieber
Jillian Emerson, Ph.D. – Dow Chemical Company
Ming Luo, Ph.D.
Tiffany Suekama, Ph.D.
Spencer Burton – REU Student, Case Western Reserve University
Douglas Scott – BS (UD 2016), Princeton University Ph.D. student
John McCarron – BS (UD 2016), Peace Corps
Michael Karavolias – BS (UD 2016), University of Minnesota Ph.D. student
Dakota Hanemann-Rawlings – BS (UD 2016), U.C.S.B. Ph.D. student
Michael Mayeda, Ph.D. – SAGE Energy Solutions
Angela Holmberg, Ph.D. – Post-doctoral researcher, MIT
Bonnie Limpawuchara
Wei-Fan Kuan, Ph.D. – UD Advanced Materials Characterization lab
Ryan Murphy – MS (UD 2014)
Ellen Reed – BS (UD 2014)
Matthew Green, Ph.D. – Assistant professor, Arizona State University
Sarah Mastroianni, Ph.D. – Dow Chemical Company
Elizabeth Kelley, Ph.D. – NRC post-doctoral fellow at NIST
Eddie Sangern
Sung Hyun Han
Kevin Hutter
Ron Lewis – Graduate student, University of Minnesota
Jung Hyun Lee – Post-doctoral researcher Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Jon Seppala – Post-doctoral researcher NIST
Matt Hoffman
Robby Pagels – BS (UD 2012)
Joey Kim – BS (UD 2012), Cal-Tech Ph.D. student
Sarah Hann – BS (UD 2012), U-Penn ChemEng Ph.D. student
Bin Wei – Research student
Owen Young, Ph.D. – Currently employed by Dow Chemical
Eddie Qian –Undergraduate researcher
Raghunath Roy – Post-doctoral researcher Dow Chemical
Jennifer Kelly – Currently employed by the FDA
Thomas Smart – Post-doctoral researcher
Vijay Taori – Post-doctoral researcher
Maëva Tureau, Ph.D. – Currently employed by Air Products
Julie Albert, Ph.D. – Current faculty at Tulane University
Chisom Amaechi – Research student
Jong Keun Park – Post-doctoral researcher, currently employed by Dow
Ben Schantz – University of Delaware (c/o 2012)
Mike Baney – BS (UD 2010), employed with Hexcel
Tim Bogart – BS (UD 2010), UT-Austin ChemEng Ph.D. student
Christina Marino – Currently employed by Johnson & Johnson
Jason Papandrea – University of Delaware (c/o 2011)
Tom Ronan – REU student, Notre Dame University (c/o 2010)
Jasmine Smith – REU student, Delaware State University (c/o 2011)
Nripen Singh – Post-doctoral researcher, currently employed by Lynntech, Inc.
Paul Brigandi – BS (UD 2008), currently employed by Dow
Tom Scherr – BS (UD 2008), LSU ChemEng Ph.D. student
Krishna Mukkavilli – REU student, Arizona State University (c/o 2009)
Ilyas Sarwar – Visiting group member
Peter Wells – BS (UD 2009)
