Pirri Cipi
Hometown: Tirana, Albania
Education: B.S., Microbiology, Mississippi University for Women

Degree Track: Doctoral student, Polymer Science and Engineering, Emphasis in Technology Commercialization

Research focus is to develop a fundamental understanding of enzyme activity behavior in polymer films and coatings with embedded biocatalyst and functional components. This research will serve as an experimental and theoretical framework to determine how polymer variables affect rates of in situ biocatalyzed reactions. Advancements will lead to novel compositions of materials with switchable bulk properties. Research Interests: Design of polymer compositions with autonomic response to biochemical, mechanical, and electromagnetic stimuli for biomedical and electronic applications.

AWARDS:
American Coatings Show Best Paper Award, 2008
"Invent Your Future" Competition Finalist, Noetic Technologies Inc. 2006 & 2007

Degree Track: Doctoral Student, Polymer Science and Engineering

Fatigue represents a serious engineering problem for using materials under cyclic loading conditions.  Manufacturer’s of parts made from polymers must take into account that strength properties of polymers can degrade under repetitive stress.  To date, a satisfactory understanding of the underlying cause of fatigue in thermoset polymers has not been achieved.  My research is to attempt to quantify preliminary molecular damage that leads to subsequent failure of thermoset polymers subjected to mechanical fatigue.

Joshua S. Hanna
Hometown: Booneville, MS
B.S., Chemistry, Millsaps College.
Doctoral student in Polymer Science at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Present research includes the most widely used anticorrosive coatings are two-component (2K) thermoset epoxy-amine systems. Despite their excellent performance characteristics, thermoset systems are not amenable to a broad range of precise characterization methods, i.e., measuring molecular weight versus environmental exposure. To access the molecular weight versus exposure limitations, model high molecular thermoplastic (HMWTP) epoxy-amine systems that perform similarly with standard systems and broaden the available characterization methods have been synthesized. The HMWTP model polymers will be varied in the DGEBA block length in order to vary the amount of bond strengths in the polymer backbone and correlate to degradation mechanisms. Using thermoplastic systems will eliminate the variable effects such as cure times, crosslinker ratio, side reactions with other formulation raw materials, heat of cure versus coating performance, and narrow the research to influence of substrates, additives, and raw stages. In our research, the degradation effects from ASTM B 1117, QUV and thermal weathering on the FTIR, T_g, and molecular weight on synthesized epoxy coatings has been investigated.

AWARDS:
NSF GK-12 Fellowship

David Krzeminski
Hometown: Grandville, MI
B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University.
B.S., Biomedical Engineering ,Carnegie Mellon University.
Doctoral student in Sports & High Performance Materials at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Present research interests include protective sports equipment, specifically polymeric materials used in head protection. Areas of focus include the characterization of thermoplastic materials during a focal impact event and the material's impact attenuation performance. Studying the thermal response and strain behavior will serve to characterize attenuation mechanisms and potential material degradation. The focus is to develop a fundamental understanding of energy dissipation mechanisms in these thermoplastic materials, the thermal response during these dynamic impact events, and how these lead to the onset of degradation. The overall research aim is to accurately predict the transfer of energy through a helmet system and onto the head, with the ultimate goal of minimizing the occurrence of concussions.

AWARDS:
Noetic Technologies Invent Your Future Competition FInalist

Nadine Lippa
Hometown: Bergen, NY
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University.
Doctoral student in Sports & High Performance Materials at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Present research is focused on running shoe materials and the associated biomechanics to decrease the incidence of overuse injuries.

Stephanie Messer
Hometown: Oak Grove, MN
B.S., Chemistry, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
Minor in Biology and Theatre
Master's Student in Polymer Science at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Present research is focused on the design and development of new test methods to predict and determine the corrosion protection of coated substrates, mainly AA 2024-T3. Work is currently focused on molecular probes to detect environmental changes within a coated system that may lead to damaging corrosion if left unmanaged. The goal of her research is to implement new, high throughput testing protocols for novel coating systems as well as maintenance programs for the Department of Defense.

James Henry Whittemore IV
Hometown: Austin, TX
B.S., Biochemistry, Texas State University.
Doctoral Student in Polymer Science at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Present research is focused on controlling the active layer morphology of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. OPV devices have the potential to be highly competitive with their inorganic counterparts by offering ease of processing, use of inexpensive and non-toxic materials, lightness, and flexibility. OPV cells, however, have very low power conversion efficiencies as a result of short exciton diffusion lengths and reduces charge transport. James' main focus is in obtaining core-shell nanoparticles that can be used in the active layer of organic photovoltaic devices. These particles will impart predefined domain s pacing resulting in three-dimensional nanoscale control and higher power conversion efficiencies.

AWARDS:
IGERT Fellow
Noetic Technologies Invent Your Future Competition FInalist
3rd Place Mississippi Technology Alliance Business Plan Competition