Polymer Program Alumni Feature: Mark Adams

April 22, 2025

By Paige Bjerke
IMS Written Communications Assistant

Mark Adams, ’93 Polymer Science

Mark Adams received his Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Connecticut in 1993. After an 11-year tenure with Dow Chemical, Adams joined Henry Company in various vice president and senior vice president roles. Following his tenure at Henry Company, Adams joined Associated Materials, acting in senior vice president and later executive vice president positions. Since May of 2023, Adams serves as the Chief Operating Officer of HASA Inc., a large water treatment company based in southern California.

IMS News reached out to Adams with five questions about his breadth of professional experience since obtaining his Ph.D., and how his time at UConn shaped it. Adams shows us that with grit, passion, and a strong support system, career growth occurs naturally.

Why did you choose to pursue your Ph.D. in polymer science at UConn?

My plan was to go to medical school after completing a B.S. in Chemistry from UConn. While working on my B.S., I took Physical Chemistry with Professor Andrew Garton. One day about halfway through the semester, he approached me after class and asked about what I was going to do after undergrad. I told him I was planning to go to medical school. He asked if I had ever considered grad school.

He went on to talk about an opportunity to go to the Institute of Materials Science for a Ph.D. in Polymer Science, working with him under a grant from NASA. Curious about the opportunity, I went to visit him at IMS, and the rest is history. I changed direction and worked to earn my Ph.D. on a research project for NASA, studying the degradation of polymeric spacecraft materials in the low earth orbit.

Who were some of the people who helped or inspired you most during your time at UConn, and how did their influence carry over into your professional career?

Obviously, Professor Garton had a huge impact on my academic career. He was incredibly energetic and excited about his research, which was infectious in his research group. When he passed away suddenly, prior to me completing my thesis, I was shocked and somewhat lost. My mentor in research was gone, and I was uncertain about the future and the choices I made. Fortunately, Sam Huang took me on to complete my degree.

Dr. Garton and other faculty at IMS taught me the importance of first principles and how to do research, but Dr. Garton is responsible for teaching me how to apply learning. How to identify a problem, develop root cause, research/develop technology needed, and implement technology solutions. He also helped me develop continuous improvement skills that have become the backbone of my career. Advanced research is interesting and fun but, using that to develop products and solutions is exciting.

A lot of your professional experience is more on the business side rather than in a lab or research setting. How did your Ph.D. and heavy scientific background impact your trajectory for success in so many executive-level corporate roles?

The first few roles early in my career were focused on technology and product development, which heavily leveraged my Ph.D. Successfully translating these efforts into value-creating opportunities required a complex voice of the customer requirements, which was only obtained and validated through observation and communication with end users. It’s at this interface where my unique skills started to develop, and when my career started taking turns from R&D leadership to new business development, sales, commercial leadership, and operations leadership. I have been fortunate to work with exceptional executive leaders that continually challenged and developed me, which has produced a myriad of different and challenging roles. This would not have been possible without the solid foundation I received from IMS and UConn.

What advice do you have for current polymer science students who may be unsure of their career paths?

Figure out your “internal” job description as early as possible. In other words, determine what you like to do most in combination with the skills and experience you have developed. When you figure out what your internal job description is, and you find a role that matches, you will experience dramatically accelerated growth. In my case, that was away from pure and applied research, and more focused on deploying all kinds of chemistry and engineering to develop solutions that rapidly grow businesses. Once you figure that out, job opportunities come faster than will be comfortable.

What are you most proud of having accomplished so far in your current position, and what do you most hope to accomplish going forward?

I am currently the Chief Operations Officer at a specialty chemical company specializing in water treatment. This role is truly the culmination of all my years of experience in multiple functions and companies. I am responsible for Operations at 12 sites, Engineering, Product/Process Development, EH&S, Continuous Improvement, Quality, and Transportation.

My biggest accomplishment so far with this company has been successfully restructuring and realigning our engineering group into a segmented portfolio management approach. We had way too many projects, worked on all of them at once, with too few resources, and no prioritization. Everything was delayed and above budget. Now, we are executing on time and on budget across the board on a full spectrum of projects from large new site design-builds, down to site specific capex projects.

My biggest challenge is developing and implementing automation technology in our packaging plants. We still require too much manual labor in an environment that is ergonomically challenging. Also, working with hazardous and corrosive materials poses unique challenges to metals and circuitry, so we needed to develop materials, machines, and now robots that reliably operate in challenging environments with hazardous chemicals. I guess it’s kind of like my Ph.D. work that analyzed polymers in low earth orbit, also a challenging and unforgiving environment.

IMS News thanks Mark Adams very much for his willingness to share his unique journey, and we are excited to see where he takes HASA next.

Institute of Materials Science Alumni Feature: Ayana Ghosh

April 16, 2025

by Paige Bjerke
IMS Written Communications Assistant

Ayana Ghosh ('20) — Ayana Ghosh, Ph.D. (’20)

Ayana Ghosh received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2020. Afterwards, she joined the prestigious Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy as a postdoctoral research associate. In 2023, she moved into a full-time position as a staff scientist. In this role, Ghosh has excelled in her research, having won copious awards, spoken at conferences around the world, and gotten published in multiple peer-reviewed journals.

IMS News reached out to Ghosh with five questions about her current position, her many achievements, and her plans for the future.

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You have clearly set yourself apart at Oak Ridge, having won various awards in just a few years. What skills do you feel propelled you to such impressive success, and what support systems, either within your research team or elsewhere, have helped you the most, and how?

Success in research is often non-linear. It involves many days when things don’t work out or…challenges I don’t fully understand. However, I’ve learned that the key to progress is being able to formulate a clear and meaningful scientific problem and then break it down into manageable parts. This helps me maintain a steady pace toward achieving the final goal. I believe that embracing new ideas and constantly learning—despite the challenges—are key drivers of growth and innovation. Above all, consistency, determination, and resilience have been essential to my success. Giving my best effort, even in the face of setbacks, has played a key role in driving my progress.

The support of my mentors during my postdoctoral work (September 2020 to February 2023), ongoing encouragement from my group leader at ORNL, along with the valuable feedback, collaboration, and shared knowledge from my colleagues and collaborators at ORNL and across the globe, have been instrumental in navigating challenges and advancing my work. I continue to stay in touch with my graduate school advisors and faculty, whose guidance remains invaluable in shaping my research journey.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to my mother, whose unwavering support has been a constant source of strength throughout my journey. After the sudden passing of my father during the pandemic in 2021, I faced the challenge of navigating both personal loss and the demands of my academic work. Her courage has been an anchor, helping me to persevere through difficult times and stay focused on my goals.

Working for ORNL, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, how do you grapple with the importance and scale of your work, which undoubtedly shapes government policy and affects the wellbeing of America and the world at large?

The motivation behind my work has always been the desire to address real-world problems, with the hope to contribute to technological advancements and innovations that improve people’s lives. Working at a U.S. Department of Energy lab, I recognize that my work certainly carries significant weight, particularly knowing that it can influence government policy and ultimately affect the wellbeing of individuals not just in America, but globally. I try to focus on the positive change I hope to drive rather than feel overwhelmed by the scale of it.

I’m also constantly supported by a network of colleagues, mentors, and collaborators who keep me grounded. One of the coolest things about being part of a national lab is the opportunity to casually interact with brilliant minds from various fields. Imagine this: taking an afternoon walk around the building where you might bump into a computer scientist, mathematician, or physicist, and get to chat about the problems you’re working on, gaining fresh perspectives and ideas. It’s amazing how these conversations can spark new ways of thinking, often leading to creative solutions. I also remind myself that progress is often incremental—every small step adds up to a bigger picture. Balancing the scale of my work comes from staying connected to the people and principles that matter most and keeping my focus on the long-term goals.

In 2021, you stated that you “hope to better understand the nuances of experimental research as combined with the particulars of theoretical and simulated data.” Have you been able to gain that understanding at this point in your career? If so, to what extent and how does that understanding inform your current work? If not, what do you feel are the barriers to achieving that understanding?

This is still an ongoing process. Much of my postdoctoral and current work has been dedicated to understanding the nuances between experimental research and theoretical/simulated data. We have made significant strides, particularly in autonomous microscopy, developing machine learning workflows to enhance our understanding of experimental data and integrate it with theoretical simulations.

However, challenges remain, particularly around the disparities between time and length scales. Real-time experiments often don’t align perfectly with theoretical approximations. These gaps require more adaptive approaches. I believe addressing these grand challenges will be crucial not only for my work, but also for improving the synergy between experimental and computational methods. This synergy is essential for unlocking new insights and driving innovation in the world of materials and beyond.

Your Ph.D. thesis was based heavily on machine learning, which you still employ frequently in your work at ORNL. What should current students in the field of materials science know about machine learning and AI, and how would that knowledge benefit them?

For graduate students in materials science, getting comfortable with the basics of ML and AI is crucial. Start by understanding the algorithms, their implementation, and how to apply them to real-world problems. The key is knowing when and how to use these tools, based on solid domain expertise. It’s not just about using fancy algorithms or architectures, it’s about identifying the problems in materials science that can benefit from them. Beyond just applications, there’s also a big opportunity for students to get involved in method development to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

On a broader note, AI is shaking up every field – it’s changing how we teach and learn, too. With AI-assisted teaching, personalized learning, and a wealth of accessible tools, I think we’re on the brink of a classroom revolution. It’s an exciting time. I imagine embracing these changes will only make us all better researchers and learners. So, for students, one piece of advice, don’t just sit back – dive in and start experimenting (in the lab and on the computer)!

With so much recognition already, and new projects going on constantly, what are your goals or specific things you want to achieve over the next 10 years?

Looking ahead, I am committed to pushing the boundaries of my field by advancing technological solutions that tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges in energy, AI, and quantum technologies. I am particularly excited about the potential of deepening our understanding of the foundational principles of materials physics and bridging theory with real-world experiments. This integration will be crucial in developing practical, scalable solutions that address the evolving challenges in both society and technology.

With an eye on what’s next, my goal is to take on more leadership roles, collaborating with a diverse range of experts across disciplines to drive innovation and create meaningful change. Equally important is my commitment to mentoring young researchers and contributing to the development of the next generation of scientists. At the same time, I recognize the importance of balancing career advancement with maintaining personal well-being, ensuring both professional growth and personal fulfillment.

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IMS News thanks Dr. Ghosh for taking the time to answer our questions and providing such potent insight into her work. We wish her all the best as she continues her exciting and innovative career journey.

52 UConn Engineering Faculty Among World’s Top 2% of Scientists. Half are IMS Faculty Members

January 6, 2025

from UConn Today

Fifty-two faculty members from the UConn College of Engineering have been recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in 2024, according to Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientist Rankings. This annual ranking highlights the most widely cited researchers across diverse scientific disciplines, underscoring their significant contributions to research and their global impact. Half of those recognized are Institute of Materials Science (IMS) faculty members.

The top 2% career-long faculty members from UConn’s College of Engineering are: Mark Aindow, Emmanouil Anagnostou, Rajeev Bansal, Yaakov Bar-Shalom, Ali Bazzi, Jinbo Bi, C. Barry Carter, Baki Cetegen, Ki Chon, John DeWolf, Avinash Dongare, Pu-Xian Gao, Amir Herzberg, Bahram Javidi, Thomas Katsouleas, Theo Kattamis, David Kleinman, Lee Langston, Cato Laurencin, Yu Lei, Baikun Li, Tianfeng Lu, Radenka Maric, Jeffrey McCutcheon, Nejat Olgac, Krishna Pattipati, Sanguthevar Rajasekaran, Montgomery Shaw, Luyi Sun, Chih-Jen Sung, Ali Tamayol, Jiong Tang, Guiling Wang, Robert Weiss, Kay Wille, Peter Willett, Ji-Cheng Zhao, Junbo Zhao, Guoan Zheng, Shengli Zhou, and Xiao-Dong Zhou.

This recognition highlights the high caliber of UConn’s engineering faculty, whose research spans critical fields such as biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. Their work not only advances academic knowledge but also offers innovative solutions to pressing global challenges in health care, energy, and materials science.

52 faculty members ranked top 2% world scientists

read the full story at UConn Today.

Avinash Dongare Named ASME Fellow

November 20, 2024

by Linda Costa
IMS Written Communications Assistant

Dr. Avinash Dongare, a resident member of the University of Connecticut’s Institute of Materials Science (IMS) has been elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Dr. Raj Rajendran, Chair of the Executive Materials Division of ASME, surprised Dongare with the nomination.

Dr. Rajendran has known Avinash since 2007 when they met while Dr. Rajendran was serving as Chief Scientist for the Engineering Directorate at the U.S. Army Research Office. During that time, Dongare was serving as Rajendran’s National Research Council (NRC) Fellow, working on modeling the response of complex molecules and single crystals under shock (high pressure and high strain rate) loading conditions.

“It is clear that Dr. Dongare stands among the most outstanding researchers of his generation,” Dr. Rajendran said of his decision to nominate Dongare. “I am confident his innovative research will continue to earn him well-deserved recognition and accolades from his peers.”

Rajendran also noted Dongare’s dedication to the field, noting that he actively serves the scientific community through his roles with ASME and as a reviewer for several leading journals in his area of expertise.

“His service and leadership underscore his commitment to advancing science and supporting the work of his colleagues,” Dr. Rajendran commented.

Dr. Dongare’s current research involves the development and application of advanced computational methods to investigate the behavior and properties of novel materials across multiple scales.

ASME is a nonprofit organization founded in 1880 to help the engineering community develop solutions to numerous challenges.

Qiaoling Fan from Hohman Group Published in JACS

November 18, 2024

by Linda Costa
IMS Written Communications Assistant

Qiaoling Fan, a member of IMS resident faculty member and Professor of Chemistry, Nathan Hohman’s research group, has been published in JACS (the Journal of the American Chemical Society). Fan is currently a third-year graduate student in inorganic chemistry here at the University of Connecticut.

JACS is a weekly scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society. Published research undergoes a rigorous peer-review process.

Fan’s research, entitled Nucleophilic Displacement Reactions of Silver-Based Metal-Organic Chalcogenolates (MOChas), provides a new synthetic route for the preparation of more elaborate MOChas and heterostructures. Her research has also enabled the preparation of unreachable oligophenyl MOChas which lead to an applicable platform to create complex 2D inorganic phases.

The Hohman Research Group currently includes eight graduate students and one undergraduate student. The group’s research focuses on the design and synthesis of nanomaterials and nanointerfaces for applications, understanding origins of how different structure leads to function in complex materials, and solving synthetic problems. Their work has earned a Department of Energy (DoE) grant to help further their research.

“Working with Dr. Hohman’s group has been fulfilling, both intellectually and creatively,” Fan says. “Collaborating with talented peers in Dr. Hohman’s lab has been a constant learning experience, fostering interdisciplinary thinking and dynamic idea exchanges. What excites me most about our research is its potential real-world impact, particularly in display technology.

Fan earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu, China followed by a master’s in chemistry at East China Normal University in Shanghai, China. She also spent time as a high school chemistry teacher in China.

“Teaching at this level was a unique experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally,” fan recalled. “One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching was watching my students grow and develop a curiosity for chemistry. What I hoped my students would take away from my teaching was not just a set of chemical facts but an appreciation for the scientific process and the world around them.”

Collaborative Research Paves Way for High-Performance Fiber Materials

November 12, 2024

by Linda Costa
IMS Written Communications Assistant

A research study recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) presents a breakthrough in the design of synthetic copolypeptides which mimic the mechanical properties of spider silk.

The study, entitled Synthesis and In Situ Thermal Induction of β-Sheet Nanocrystals in Spider Silk-Inspired Copolypeptides, was conducted in the research lab of IMS resident faculty member and Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Yao Lin, in collaboration with Dr. Jianjun Cheng, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC). Graduate students Tianjian Yang and Jianan Mao (UConn) and Tianrui Xue (UIUC) provided essential contributions to the study.

Leveraging advanced helix-accelerated, ring-opening polymerization techniques, the research team synthesized multiblock copolypeptides, which undergo a transformation into β-sheet nanocrystals upon heating, achieving robust materials with excellent mechanical integrity, tunability, and processability without the need for solvents.

The study also expands upon traditional poly-alanine-based constructs found in natural spider silk by introducing novel β-sheet-forming amino acids, offering new ways to tailor these materials for specific functional applications. This approach is expected to pave the way for next-generation biopolymer and high-performance fiber materials whose properties will include increases in tensile strength, extensibility, processability, and versatility similar to natural spider silk.

Professor Lin’s group studies bio-inspired macromolecules and materials using the techniques of polymer synthesis, macromolecular characterization, physical chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry as tools.

Visit the JACS site to read the research.

George Bollas Named 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar

September 5, 2024

George Bollas, a professor in the College of Engineering and IMS faculty member, has been named a 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar. George, one of five UConn faculty to receive the honor, will be performing research in Greece to investigate the end-to-end feasibility of ammonia as a fuel for the difficult-to-decarbonize transportation sectors. A second focus area of George’s research will be on ammonia cracking and power generation in fuel cells.

Fulbright Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions.

Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

Ki Chon Named Board of Directors Distinguished Professor

July 10, 2024

Dr. Ki H. Chon, the Krenicki Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, is a pioneer in the field of biosignal processing and wearable devices. As the inaugural head of the Biomedical Engineering department from 2014 to 2022, Dr. Chon’s leadership was instrumental in driving substantial growth in both faculty recruitment and research funding, securing a more than $17 million increase in annual research allocations.

Having earned his undergraduate engineering degree from UConn, Dr. Chon has remained dedicated to advancing his alma mater’s stature in the global academic community. His research has led to the development of a life-saving wearable device capable of predicting seizures in divers—a breakthrough that underscores his commitment to translating academic research into practical, real-world applications. This innovation has not only secured the backing of the U.S. Navy but also holds the potential to transform safety protocols in diving operations worldwide.

Dr. Chon’s scholarly contributions are extensive, with an impressive tally of over 220 refereed journal articles and 13 U.S. patents granted, alongside substantial federal research funding totaling more than $29 million. His work on real-time detection of atrial fibrillation and other physiological anomalies via mobile and wearable technology platforms has positioned him at the forefront of biomedical engineering.

Dr. Chon has demonstrated a profound commitment to educational innovation. He has developed three new courses, including Junior Design and Biomedical Signal Processing, which have significantly enhanced the biomedical engineering curriculum at UConn. These courses not only prepare students for real-world engineering challenges but also ensure that they are well-versed in the latest technological advancements and methodologies.

Beyond his technical and academic achievements, Dr. Chon has played a pivotal role in enhancing the department’s diversity and inclusion efforts. His recruitment strategy led to the appointment of UConn’s first female African American Professor in the College of Engineering, marking a significant step forward in fostering an inclusive academic environment.

As a fellow of six major societies and a distinguished member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, Dr. Chon’s contributions to the field of biomedical engineering are widely recognized. His leadership and vision have not only elevated the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UConn but have also had a profound impact on the broader scientific and engineering communities.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service, Dr. Ki H. Chon is an exemplary candidate for the Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor award. His ongoing dedication to the field and his alma mater makes him a deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.

Three Students from Duduta Group Awarded NASA CTSGC Fellowships

July 9, 2024

Dominic Flores (top), Sahib Sandhu (bottom left) and Alexander White (bottom right) from the Duduta Group

NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium (CTSGC) is a federally mandated grant, internship, and scholarship program funded as a part of NASA Education. Formed in 1991 by Trinity College, University of Connecticut, University of New Haven, and University of Hartford, NASA CTSGC encourages broader participation in NASA research programs.
Three graduate students from Prof. Mihai “Mishu” Duduta’s group (Dominic Flores, Sahib Sandhu and Alexander White) have won NASA Connecticut Space Consortium Graduate Fellowships of $10,000 each to support research at the interface of soft and space robotics.

Dominic Flores was awarded $10,000 for his research proposal entitled Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Grippers with Sensing Capabilities for Space Applications.

Sahib Sandhu was awarded $10,000 for his research proposal entitled Space ready deployable composites based on compliant capacitors.

Alexander White was awarded $10,000 for his research proposal entitled Spacecraft Landing System using Soft Tunable Tensegrity Structures.

IMS congratulates Dominic, Sahib, and Alexander!

Alex Asandei Awarded 6th Consecutive Single-PI NSF Grant

June 13, 2024

With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry, Associate Professor of Chemistry and faculty member in the IMS Polymer Program Alexandru D. Asandei, is developing new methods for the precise synthesis of novel fluorinated polymeric materials with complex architectures, as well as exploring the re/upcycling of commercial fluoropolymers.

Fluoropolymers are contrasted to conventional polymers with even simple homo/random fluoropolymers exhibiting outstanding chemical, thermal and flame resistance, biocompatibility, and unique electronic properties which render them important in high-end applications such as battery, aerospace, sensing, medical device, building, construction, and automotive industries. However, the chemical tools for the precise synthesis of analogous complex fluoropolymer materials (blocks, grafts etc.) are lacking. Thus, the project goals include the development of the required novel chemistry, to explore hitherto unknown and unavailable materials with potentially superior properties and applications leading to the associated societal benefits.

While technologically important, fluoropolymers suffer from a number of factors that have hampered new developments. These factors include a combination of very low monomer reactivity, very high propagating polymer chain end reactivity, complex and often hazardous laboratory setups, and the general lack of appropriate polymer chemistry tools (initiators, catalysts, coupling agents etc.). Accordingly, fluoroalkenes remain some of the most challenging monomers for both controlled radical and coordination polymerizations, where manipulation of molecular weight, polydispersity and architecture/sequence are of paramount importance for the emerging properties. In addition, current re/upcycling of industrial fluoropolymers remain minimal.

The proposed research aims at developing innovative and environmentally conscious chemistry (e.g. water, visible light catalysis etc.), to overcome the above deficiencies, and significantly enlarges the fluoro, organic and polymer synthesis toolbox, while providing access to novel fluoropolymer materials. This includes the elaboration of novel, functional, universal radical initiating systems that enable both controlled radical fluoro/regular alkene polymerizations and chain end derivatizations/couplings towards the synthesis of multiblock copolymers, in-depth mechanistic investigations on optimizing polymerization parameters and understanding the structure/property/function in the resulting fluoropolymers, as well as exploration of the coordination polymerization of fluoroalkenes, and the up/recycling of industrial fluoropolymers.

The project provides training and education to undergraduate and graduate students, including minority and female students, in synthetic organic, organometallic, and polymer chemistry. The project also has strong industrial impact, important outreach activities, and the results will be broadly disseminated in the scientific literature and national and international meetings.