Nick majored in chemistry at Pitt. He joined the Laaser Lab in fall of 2022, where he worked with Tom and Victoria on synthesis of mechanochemically-active polymer networks.  Nick graduated in spring 2024, and plans to start his PhD in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University in the fall.

Gilly joined the Laaser Lab in spring 2022, where she worked with Julisa on characterization of polymerized ionic liquids and Conner on complex coacervates.

About Tom Tom worked in the Laaser Lab from September 2021 – April 2023, where he worked with Victoria on measuring mechanochemical activation in polymer networks.  He is now continuing research in the Wipf group for his senior year to further develop his interests in organic chemistry. Tom is a chemistry major, but is also […]

About Kasey Kasey worked in the Laaser Lab from September 2021 through August 2022, where he worked with Zi on understanding how dispersity affects mechanochemical activation in triblock copolymers.  Outside of the lab, Kasey was involved in Air Force ROTC, and commissioned as an officer after graduation in spring 2023. Publications

About Rotem Rotem joined the Laaser Lab in spring 2021, where she worked on understanding hydration changes in polyelectrolyte complex coacervates at high salt concentrations.  She graduated in spring 2022 and is currently looking for jobs in industry.

About Taylor Taylor joined the Laaser Lab in January 2021, where she worked on understanding the phase behavior of poly(oxacyclobutane) using both experiments and molecular dynamics simulations.  Taylor graduated in spring 2022, and will be starting her Ph.D in chemistry at Penn in the fall.

About Matt Matt worked in the Laaser Lab in spring and summer of 2021, where he worked with Paige on synthesis and characterization of hydrogels.  Matt graduated in August 2021, and moved on to a position at PPG in Pittsburgh.

About Lavinia Lavinia joined the Laaser Lab in January 2021, where she worked with Zi on simulations of mechanochemically-active block copolymers until she graduated in May 2021. In addition to her chemistry major, she completed a physics minor and a sustainability certificate. Publications

About Cindy Cindy is a senior in chemistry.  She joined the Laaser Lab in January 2020, where she is working with Victoria on synthesis and characterization of polymer networks.

About Lexi Lexi joined the Laaser Lab as an undergraduate researcher in January of 2019, where she is worked on characterization of complex coacervates in the presence of different salts.  She graduated in spring of 2019, and plans to start her PhD in chemistry at Case Western in the fall. Publications

About Marissa Marissa joined the Laaser Lab as an undergraduate researcher in January 2018, where she worked with Frankie on characterizing polyelectrolyte complex coacervates.  She graduated in Spring of 2019 and currently works at nanoComposix in San Diego, CA. Publications

About Caitlyn Caitlyn was an undergraduate researcher in the Laaser Lab in Fall of 2017, where she worked on potentiometric titrations of polyelectrolyte complexes. After graduating in spring of 2018, Caitlyn moved to Cleveland, where she is currently pursuing her teaching credential.

About Brandon Brandon joined the Laaser Lab in January of 2017, where he worked with Zi and Swati on the synthesis of mechanochemically-active block copolymers. Brandon graduated in spring of 2018, and is currently a chemist at PPG in Pittsburgh. Publications

About Morgan Morgan joined the Laaser Lab as an undergraduate researcher in fall of 2016, where she worked on her own project on the synthesis and characterization of dynamically-crosslinked polymer networks. Morgan graduated in April 2019, and after graduation, traveled to Mozambique to teach secondary science as a member of the Peace Corps before returning […]