Professor Hillmyer named a 2012 Poly Fellow

Professor Marc Hillmyer has been named a 2012 Poly Fellow of the American Chemical Society's Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc.

Fellows are nominated by their peers, and are honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions to polymer science and the profession.

Hillmyer teaches polymer, materials, organic, physical, and environmental chemistry for the Department of Chemistry. His research interests encompass the design, synthesis, and applications of functional polymeric materials, particularly polymers made from renewable resources, and the use of block polymers to prepare nanoporous materials for applications in water purification, advanced lithography, and solar energy conversion.

Hillmyer is director of the Department of Chemistry's Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP), which integrates science, technology, and public policy initiatives and research aimed at reducing dependence on petrochemicals for the creation of plastics. CSP focuses on designing, preparing, and implementing polymers derived from renewable resources for a wide range of advanced applications, and on promoting future economic development, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability in the emergent area of bio-based products.

He is also the microstructured polymers program leader for the Industrial Partnership for Research Interfacial and Materials Engineering (IPRIME) at the University. IPRIME creates opportunities for industry professionals to collaborate with University students and researchers.

Hillmyer has received prestigious honors for his teaching and research. His previous honors include receiving the Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer Chemistry Award from the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry; a Distinguished McKnight Professorship for his work on nanostructured polymers for the environment; a Packard Fellowship; a National Science Foundation Career Award; a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award; the Arthur Doolittle Award from the American Chemical Society; a McKnight Land-Grant Professorship; the George Taylor Career Development Award; the George Taylor Research Award; and being named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Marc Hillmyer (back row, third from left) is pictured with the 2012 Poly Fellows.