Polymer Science Podcast
This podcast discusses scientific studies with researchers from around the world in the Chemistry and Polymer Science fields. It aims to bring current research to your attention that can influence and improve the quality of our daily lives. The hosts are Dr Alicia Botes and Jacob Schekman, who have backgrounds in polymer science from South Africa and the United States.
Episodes
Episode 39: Dr. Yoan Simon talks about the grad school experience, professorship, and adaptive polymer networks
Welcome back everyone!
Please enjoy this jovial interview with Dr. Yoan Simon, Associate Professor of Polymer Science with the Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing at Arizona State University.
Do you have any questions, comments, or feedback for the show? Please reach out to us at PolymerSciencePodcast@gmail.com
#Polymers #PolymerScience #Engineering #USM #AS
Episode 38: Talking to Julia K Wright about textiles, weaving and using the loom
Today we listen to Julia Wright, who is a fascinating and unique guest to have on our show! In this episode we learn all about the Loom and what goes into the art of weaving.
She is a contemporary textile artist and engineer currently based in Ithaca, NY while working in the biomedical textile engineering field. She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts for Textiles with a focus on weaving from the
Episode 37: Dr. Frank Leibfarth discusses polymer recycling and PFAS filtratrion
In this interview from November 2022, Dr. Frank Leibfarth discusses the exciting research coming from his group. Dr. Leibfarth cultivated a passion for organic synthetic polymer chemistry, and utilizes his many talents and excellent leadership to guide his group toward the production of sustainable polymer materials.
Papers discussed in this interview:
"Diversification of Aliphatic C-H Bonds in
Episode 36: Dr. Kevin Wyss discusses Flash-Joule Heating, Polymer Upcycling, and Life-Cycle Assessment
We are back! Again! Much has changed since I've last been able to post an episode, but the wonders of polymer science continue propagating!
In this interview we hear from Dr. Kevin Wyss, who earned his PhD during August of 2023 from Rice University. Dr. Wyss has since taken his incredible talents with him to Schlumberger, advancing the frontier of sustainable materials. Tune in to the show to lea
Episode 35: Talking to Joe Mwakiremba about upcycling flip-flops from beaches in Kenya
In this episode, we listen to Joe Mwakiremba, a hardworking and passionate sales representative for Ocean Sole in Kenya, talk about how they are upcycling trashed flip-flop while simultaneously cleaning up the environment and creating stable jobs for many people. Check out these links to YouTube and watch these flip-flops being turned into amazing sculptures!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK-BHZ
Episode 34: Dr Mapula Razwinani talks about plant-based bandages with medicinal features
Today I spoke to Dr Mapula about patents, polymers in wound healing treatment, medicinal plants and empowering women in science particularly in Africa. She is a warm, kind and self driven biomedical researcher and entrepreneur with comprehensive accomplishment in clinical research and tissue engineering.
Please check her page on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mapula-razwinani-17ba6655/
Episode 33: Dr. Boran ”Bo” Ma discusses computational modeling in polymers, comedy in science, and living in Hattiesburg
Dr. Boran “Bo” Ma established the Ma Research Lab in January 2023 in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to joining the SPSE, Dr. Bo was a postdoctoral associate at Duke University. She received her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University in 2019 and her BEng in Materials Science and Engineering from Harbin In
Episode 32: Gregory Parisi tells us more about adaptable Fog water collection using switchable electrospun fibers
Today we are talking to Gregory Parisi about harvesting water in variable humidity conditions studying specifically the wetting properties of electrospun polymer materials.
Gregory is a PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked as a Fulbright fellow at the AGH-UST Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science in Poland with Urszula Stachewicz, a previous guest on
Episode 31: Adam Hecht from Dive Design on 3D printing prosthesis for dogs and more
In this episode we talk to Adam Hecht, Co-Founder, Designer and Director of Additive Manufacturing at DiveDesign. He tells us more about what goes into running a 3D company and all the products that they are currently making. He also have some amazing collaborations and interesting projects, from turning trash from the ocean into furniture to helping disabled ducks, dogs and even a Elephant!
Hop
Episode 30: Dr Aurelien Forget speaks about a wonderful new Free Radical Polymerization game that is for everyone
In this episode we listen to Dr Aurelien Forget talk about his work and research interests. He also shares details about a fun and educative card game that he developed called Macromolecular Games: A Free Radical Polymerization Card Game. This card game is made for anyone that wish to understand polymerization and can even be customized with you own logo or tag that you would like displayed on the
Episode 29: Dr. Tristan Clemons discusses soft-matter therapeutics, peptide synthesis, and field hockey
Dr. Tristan Clemons is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Clemons established his lab at USM in 2021 and quickly started exciting research in Soft Matter Science. The Clemons group is multidisciplinary in nature, firmly embedded at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering. His research efforts are aimed at the interface of synthetic and biological
Episode 28: Dr. Katrina Knauer discusses the restructuring of plastic recycling
Dr. Katrina Knauer is the Chief Technology Officer of the BOTTLE Consortium at the National Renewable Energy Laboratories near Denver, Colorado. BOTTLE (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-organization consortium focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today's plastics and redesigning tomor
Episode 27: Dr. Barney Grubbs discusses the significance of depolymerizable polymers in sustainable materials
Dr. Barney Grubbs discusses with Jacob the importance of controllably degradable polymers and their significance in improving material sustainability. Dr. Grubbs also talks about his academic journey, taking us all around the United States as he shares his exciting research!
The Grubbs research group investigates questions addressing the common ground shared by polymer, organic, and materials chem
Episode 26: Talking to Ingmar Van Hengel about digital health, 3D implants and skin printing
Ingmar Van Hengel is a PhD candidate at Delft University in Biomedical Engineering. He also has a mind for business when he created his first startup company called SkinPrint for the treatment of burn wounds using bioprinting to develop skin using the patient's cells and biocompatible natural polymer materials. He then shifted his focus to developing multifunctional 3D implants for orthopedic pati
Episode 25: Dr. Brooks Abel, University of California Berkeley, Polymer Recycling
Dr. Brooks Abel is an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where the Abel group conducts research at the interfaces of polymer organic chemistry, catalysis, and materials science. Dr. Brooks and his group pursue application-driven polymer chemistry, where the desired chemical identity, physical properties, and end-use of the polymer materials are used to guide the develop
Episode 24: Talking to Dr Megan Coates and Dr Laura Frazier about SNC and TaikiUSA nanofiber-based beauty line
Today we are talking to Dr Laura Frazier, Chief Scientist of TaikiUSA, and Dr Megan Coates, R&D manager at the Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company, about their collaboration and creation of Bōshi Beauty nanofiber-based product line.
Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company has been developing nanofiber-based products, including advanced wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds and cosmetic products. TaikiUS
Episode 23: Talking to Clariter’s Zininzi Mpafa about upcycling plastic waste to useful products
Hello everyone!
Alicia, here! So at the time of this recording I am approximately 38 weeks pregnant and a little sick as you could probably tell from my voice.
This means that I am now on maternity leave while you are listening to this episode and taking care of our newborn!
Nonetheless the show goes on! And I am happy to say that our Podcast team has grown. You will be introduced to our new co-ho
Episode 22: Talking to Dr. Benjamin Alameda about controllably degradable polymer networks
In this episode we hear from Dr. Benjamin Alameda, a brand new PhD graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Alameda specializes in the design, fabrication, and characterization of polymer networks that degrade in the presence of different external stimuli. As we continue to mold the future of plastics toward more environmentally friendly designs, we need to consider the "cradle-to
Episode 21: Talking to Dr. Christoph Herfurth about polyurethanes and sustainable plastics
In this episode we hear from Dr. Christoph Herfurth, a researcher from Fraunhofer. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and res
Episode 20: Talking to Tshepo Mangoele about an amazing natural polymer called Lignin.
In this episode we are talking to Tshepo Mangoele, CEO and Founder of LignOrganic (PTY) Ltd. This company is the first in Africa to produce Sulphur-free Lignin, a natural polymer with endless possibilities and applications!
Tshepo is a Chemical Engineer with a vision to make environmentally-friendly biomaterials and sustainable products the new normal in markets for cosmetics, packaging, agricultu
Episode 19: Talking to Hyunwoo Yuk about barnicle-inspired surgical glue
Hello and welcome, everyone, to the Polymer Science Podcast's last episode for 2021!
In this episode we’ll be listening to my interview with Dr. Hyunwoo Yuk, an outstanding research scientist of mechanical and biomedical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I reached out to Dr. Yuk after finding his work on the development of a particularly interesting surgical glue – this g
Episode 18: Talking to Monika Snowdon about antiviral formulations and a career path in Nanotechnology
My co-host Jacob Schekman and I had our very first interview as a duo!
Together, we had a very enlightening conversation with Dr Monika Snowdon about her PhD work, the projects she is currently busy with, and we learned more about her very own Podcast show, called the IMNano podcast, which she hosts with her co-host, Irfani!
Monika obtained her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Waterlo
Episode 17: Talking to Dr. John Pojman about QuickCure Clay
In this episode, Dr. Pojman talks with Jacob about the unique reaction properties of frontal polymerization and the serendipity within his research that led to his production and international distribution of QuickCure Clay. Pojman Polymer Products, LLC, licensed QuickCure Clay to Ranger industries, which produces and distributes the material around the world. No mixing, no kiln… just mold and hea
Episode 16: Talking to Jacquin October about the applications of Synthesis in Organic Chemistry
Today is a special episode where I catch up with an old Stellenbosch University colleague of mine, Dr Jacquin October. He is a very impressive and dedicated Postdoctoral Researcher at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion. We talked about his move from South Africa to Germany and what that entails. We also discussed the applications and necessity for studies from his previous Ph.D. w
Episode 15: Talking to Prof James Pikul about Metallic Wood
It is a week after the Closing Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, and it is amazing to be able to reflect on the revolutionary technology that we currently have available due to the dedicated mechanical engineers and scientists that are focusing their efforts on providing sustainable and convenient tools to improve society. In Japan, we saw the effective use of bullet trains for quick trans
Episode 14: Talking to Maliha Syed about Polymers in Cosmetics
Dr Maliha Syed studied at the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with her PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering. She is a Principle Scientist for the company called Avlon which focuses on synergizing health, beauty, and polymer science to provide skincare solutions that enhance consumer wellness. Maliha talks to us about hair, nail and skin care and the development strategies behind
Episode 13: Talking to Prof. James Rawlins about Polymer Coatings
Today's episode features Prof. James Rawlins from the University of Southern Mississippi where he focusses his research on structure properties and structure performance relationships of polymer coatings and early detection of corrosion.
Coatings are predominant in our every day life and is used in corrosion control, as decorative covering or even for modifying surfaces to make it more hydrophobic
Episode 12: Talking to Thomas Mortelmans about Nanofluidic Devices for research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Thomas Mortelmans is a PhD student with a passion for Polymers. He talks about how he combines various scientific fields and state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques for bio-medically relevant applications. He is working on the development of a nanofluidic device, which would be capable of interpreting pathophysiological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. The project is a collaboration b
Episode 11: Talking to Dr. Danielle Pretorius about Fabricating cardiac tissue patches
Dr. Danielle Pretorius has earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Together with Dr. Jay Zhang, she is helping to fabricate cardiac tissue patches that is made from human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells. The initial structures were made with fibrin but due to the dynamic nature of the cells, the extracellular matrix of these cells could be r
Episode 10: Talking to Prof Urszula Stachewicz about Bioengineered Electrospun Fibers for Water Harvesting systems and the Treatment of Eczema
In this Episode we speak to Prof Stachewicz from the AGH University of Science and Technology about two topics that revolve around Bioengineered Electrospun fibers. We first talk about a Water Harvesting system using Polystyrene-Cellulose electrospun fibers. She describes the specific electrospinning process required for the development of "gutter" shaped fibers for these water collection devices
Episode 9: Talking to Dr. Upenyu L. Muza about Field flow fractionation for the characterization of Exosome-Polymer hybrids
This episode is filled with information about the engineering and characterization of Exosome-Polymer hybrids. Dr. Upenyu Muza explains to us what exosomes are and how they can be modified and improved for the use in targeted drug delivery and for other medicinal applications by using polymers. He also gives us a detailed description of a very important separation technique called Field Flow Fract
Episode 8: Talking to Prof. Dr. Michael Meier about a Greener Future in Chemistry
And we are back, kicking off the new year with a topic close to our hearts! Today my Co-host Jacob Schekman spoke to Prof. Michael Meier from the Laboratory of Applied Chemistry at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany.
The topic of sustainable chemistry in the lab is a very interesting and necessary topic. Prof Meier discusses the importance of making scientific experiments mor
2020 Wrap Up: Get to know us
This year went by with a flash. Wow. It really tested our ability to work together as a society as well as forced us to re-evaluate what is essential and important to our health and well being.
This is a special episode to wrap up this year and to give thanks to everyone who have supported The Polymer Science Podcast so far. We cannot thank you enough!
One thing is certain, the year 2020 have s
Episode 7: Talking to Haydn Kriel about Nordshield in the fight against pathogens
This episode contains a fascinating talk with Haydn Kriel, who obtained a MSc in Polymer Science at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and he now resides in Finland and works with the Nordic Biotech Group. We talked about the life of a Polymer Scientist and how to make the best decisions for your career. We also discussed their innovative and sustainable natural disinfectant called Nordshield.
Episode 6: Talking to Dr Nikoline Borgermann about making labs more sustainable and her consultancy Ava Sustain
Today we talked to Dr Nikoline Borgermann, founder of Ava Sustain. This is a consultancy that is dedicated to help labs around the world to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing single use plastic, energy and water waste.
She will be giving tips on how to take the first step toward a "greener" lab and how to overcome obstacles that may be making the change difficult. I hope you find
Educate Ep 4: Electrospinning (Part 2)
Today we discuss some more interesting details about the electrospinning instrument. I hope you, as a student, researcher or even as a person wondering more about this instrument, find it useful! Please email The Polymer Science team at polymersciencepodcast@gmail.com for any questions or comments!
Hope you enjoy!
Episode 5: Talking to Dr Lisa Fortuin about Bone Glue! A degradable polymer based bone fracture adhesive that can replace metal plates and screws in t...
Today we are talking to Dr Lisa Fortuin, a postdoctoral researcher at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. She did her PhD at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where she used biodegradable polymers to develop prodrugs for targeted drug delivery. She is currently developing part of the layered system that forms the degradable polymer based bone fracture adhesive, which surgeons will eventu
Educate Ep 4: Electrospinning (Part 1)
The electrospinning instrument has grown in popularity over the many years and have been developed in such a way that it can be used for a multitude of applications. Whether it is in the pharmaceutical or biomedical fields or in packaging or food preservation, it is an extremely interesting and useful tool in Polymer Science!
Hope you enjoy the short episode, there will be more to come where we w
Episode 4: Talking to Dr Joshua Tropp about specializing in conjugated polymers for applications in sensors and flexible electronics
I'm excited to introduce my new co-host, Jacob Schekman, a fellow scientist with a passion for Polymer Science research!
Today's episode is with Dr Joshua Tropp from the University of Southern Mississippi. This talk brings us an interesting and informative conversation about conjugated polymers and the role that these materials play in the development of sensors and flexible electronics.
You can
Educate Ep 3: The Electron Microscope (Part 3)
This is the last episode for the Electron Microscope series discussing software and EDX. If there are more questions and comments about this instrument, I will make a seperate questions and answers episode. Stay tuned for more educational episodes about other characterization and analytical instruments still to come!
This podcast is now available on Podbean app as well!
Leave a review and don't
Episode 3: Talking to Dr Pavani Cherukupally about low cost sponges for wastewater treatments
Today we are talking to Dr Pavani Cherukupally, whom I met in Mexico during the Polymer Processing Society conference in 2017. Her energy and passion for research in wastewater treatments and nanocomposite sponges are infectious. Clean and safe drinking water is crucial to our well being and researchers, like Dr Pavani, helps to create more cost effective ways of removing pollutants, such as crude
Episode 2: Talking to Hamsa Ashraf from Egypt about Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
I had the privilege of interviewing the talented Hamsa Ashraf from Cairo, who currently works at a Child Cancer Hospital in the field of Tissue Engineering. Her work focusses on restoring long bone defects using bioprinted scaffolds made from natural biopolymers. The long distance call had its challenges for the audio but I am certain that you will find this episode extremely interesting, nonethel
Educate Ep 2: Electron Microscopes (Part 2)
This educational episode discusses the basics of sample preparation for Electron Microscopy. There are quite a number of ways to treat your sample depending on type of sample and the results you are looking for as well as the type of Electron Microscope you are using. I hope you find this episode useful, please feel free to comment and ask questions!
You can go to the Central Analytical Facility
Educate Ep 1: The Electron Microscope (Part 1)
These episodes are for students and people that are interested in the instruments that are used to characterise and analyse samples in Material Science and Chemistry.
The first episode will be an introduction to Electron Microscopes and for understanding the components and functions of these glorious instruments.
Hope you find it useful!
Episode 1: Talking to Dr Zhugen Yang about paper-based devices for bulk Covid19 testing
This episode discusses paper-based devices for the use in waste water epidemiology and focuses on how these sensor devices can positively contribute to the current issues caused by the Covid19 pandemic. Many informal settlements in South Africa and other third world countries are exposed to waste water and this device may help to establish any contamination of their drinking water. These Paper-bas
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