Month: June 2023

IMS Welcomes New Staff Members

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Jesse David
Jesse David
Nicole Jagielo
Nicole Jagielo
Mustafa Yavuz
Mustafa Yavuz

The Institute of Materials Science (IMS) at UConn is pleased to announce the addition of three new staff members who will enhance the Institute’s research and outreach capabilities.

Jesse David joined IMS as Stock Room and Lab Safety Manager in March.  Jesse comes to IMS from within the University, having previously served as environmental health and safety coordinator for the Innovation Partnership Building (IPB). An analytical chemist interested in research and development, cannabis, and quality testing roles, Jesse brings a strong background in method validation and analysis on HPLC, UPLC, GC/MS, GC/FID. Jesse holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of South Florida and has held positions of increasing responsibility at alternative medicine company Trulieve in Tallahassee, Florida.  An avid environmentalist, Jesse has volunteered for environmental agencies including Coastal Cleanup in Tampa Bay, FL, and the Tampa Audubon Society.

Nicole Jagielo joins IMS as the new Grants and Contracts Assistant. Nicole will report directly to Christina Tamburro to support the post-award grant needs of IMS researchers. Nicole has extensive experience with payroll and HuskyBuy processing at UConn, having worked in several departments and centers across the university. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.

Dr. Mustafa Selman Yavuz joins IMS as the new clean room manager. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry at UConn working with Dr. Greg Sotzing. He completed his postdoctoral work at Washington University with Dr. Younan Xia. Mustafa was formerly the R&D Director of 3BC Inc., a consultant, and Director at Biyotez Kimya Limited. Mustafa will be responsible for running the clean room and training researchers on the proper use of clean room equipment.

IMS is an advanced materials research institution providing superior graduate research education in the interdisciplinary fields of materials science and polymer science and offering materials-related technical outreach to Connecticut’s industries.

IMS Industrial Affiliates Program Hosts 2023 Annual Meeting

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2023 Annual Meeting - Morning Session
The morning session was held in the Science 1 Active Learning Classroom.

On May 25, 2023, the Institute of Materials Science (IMS) Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) held its first in-person annual meeting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The meeting began with a welcome message by Dr. Hatice Bodugoz-Senturk, Associate Director of the IMS Industrial Affiliates Program, followed by remarks by Dr. Steven L. Suib, Director of IMS, and Dr. Paul Nahass, Director of the IMS Industrial Affiliates Program. Dr. Bryan Huey, Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) gave an overview of the MSE department and its achievements; and Dr. Kelly Burke, Director of the IMS Polymer Program, discussed the latest developments in polymer science.

Dr. George Matheou presents
Dr. Georgios Matheou presents his research at the morning session of the 2003 Annual Meeting

The morning session featured three presentations by IMS faculty members from different departments. Dr. James “Nate” Hohman, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, talked about his research on experimental foundations for next-generation materials and interfaces, and how he uses big science, big data, and big AI to discover new materials for various applications. Dr. Georgios Matheou, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, presented his work on predictive modeling and simulation of multi-physics flows, and how he collaborates with industry partners in renewable energy, aerospace, and health care sectors. Dr. Vahid Morovati, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, explained his theoretical framework to model the long-term mechanical behavior of elastomeric materials considering damage accumulation and degradation.

The luncheon session featured a keynote address by Dr. Anne D’Alleva, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, who shared her vision and goals for UConn’s academic excellence and innovation. She also highlighted the importance and impact of materials science and engineering in addressing the global challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. The luncheon concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Paul Nahass.

2023 Annual Meeting Luncheon 2
IMS Director Dr. Steven L. Suib addresses industry partners, faculty, and students at the 2023 Annual Meeting Luncheon

The meeting was attended by more than 100 participants from industry affiliates and external partners along with IMS faculty, students, and alumni. The meeting also showcased the annual Joint Poster Session by IMS Polymer Program and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) students, demonstrating their projects and achievements in materials science and engineering.  Industry partners were also given tours of core laboratories in the Science 1 building, the new home to IMS.

The IMS Industrial Affiliates Program provides materials characterization services to its industry partners. The program also facilitates collaborations between IMS faculty and students and industry partners on research projects of mutual interest.

The Institute of Materials Science is an interdisciplinary research institution that supports over 100 faculty members from 15 departments across UConn’s schools and colleges. The institute offers advanced degrees in polymer science and materials science, as well as state-of-the-art research facilities for its students and faculty to conduct research that is changing the future of materials science.