Alumni

Becker Group Alumni 

Postdocs Mentored

Zhaobo Fan, M.S. (2010 – 2012) – SUNY at Stony Brook – Joseph Lauher advisor, Ph.D (2012 – 2016) – The Ohio State University – Jianjun Guan advisor, Now – Polymer Chemist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S.A. Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Division of Biology, Chemistry, and Materials Science. (CDRH/ OSEL/ DBCMS)

James Wilson, Ph.D. (2010 – 2015) – University of Warwick–Andrew Dove, advisor, Now–Senior Postdoc, Dr. Andreas Heise Lab, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Gregory Peterson, Ph.D. (2010 – 2015) – University of Washington– Andrew Boydston, advisor, Now– Research Professor, Seoul National University. Department of Chemistry

Yanyi Xu, Ph.D. (2011 – 2015) – Ohio State University– Jianjun Guan & Peter Anderson, advisors, Now– Assistant Professor, Fudan University, China. Department of Environmental Health

Laura A. Smith, Ph.D. (9/09 – 3/2013) – U of Michigan, PX Ma, advisor, Now – Assistant Professor, University of Texas Houston Medical Center, Dept of Neurosurgery

Khaled A. Aamar, Ph.D. (12/06 – 9/2010) – U of Massachusetts – Amherst, Greg Tew, advisor – NIST-RESBIO Fellow, Then – Senior Scientist, The Pall Corporation, Now – Senior Research Scientist, Pfizer

Sapun Parekh, Ph.D. (8/08 – 9/2010) – UC Berkley, Daniel Fletcher, advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow – Then National Academy of Sciences Policy Fellow, – Now Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow, Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research

Nicole M. Moore, Ph.D. (7/08 – 9/2010) – Washington Univ, Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow, Now – Program Manager – Physical Science Oncology, National Cancer Institute

Michael C. Weiger, Ph.D.  (7/08 – 9/2010) – NC State Univ, Jason Haugh, advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow – then NIH Fellow, Now – Instructor UT Houston Medical Center

Jung Jin Park, Ph.D. (6/08 – 6/09) – University of Maryland, Guest Researcher, Now – Research Scientist, University of Maryland

Abby Whittington, Ph.D.(11/06 -2/08) – U of Illinois, Russell Jamison, Advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow, Now – Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, Dept of Material Science and Engineering & Dept of Chemical Engineering

Marc D. Roy, Ph.D. (7/06 – 5/08) – Boston College, Shana O. Kelly, advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow, Now – Senior Research Scientist, Pfizer

Silvia H. Lacerda, Ph.D.(3/06 – 2/09) – U of San Paulo, Brazil, Frank Quina, advisor – Guest Researcher – Then ORISE Fellow, US Food and Drug Administration, Now – Permanent Scientific Staff, US FDA – CEDR Division.

Nathan D. Gallant, Ph.D.  (2/05 – 7/08) – Georgia Tech, Andres Garcia, Advisor – NIST-NRC Fellow, Now – Associate Professor, Univ of South Florida, Dept of Mechanical Engineering

PhD Students

Vrushali Bhagat (2012 – 2018) – B. Tech, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Now – Senior Scientist, Advanced Polymer Synthesis, Bridgestone Americas Inc., Akron, OH

Zachary Zander (2013 – 2018) – BS, St. Norbert College, Now – Senior R&D Engineer, PolyOne, Avon Lake, OH

Jiayi Yu (2012 – 2018) – BE, Beijing University of Chemical Technology & M.S., Polymer Chemistry, The University of Akron, Now – Senior Scientist, 21MedTech, Akron, OH

Shan Li (2012 – 2018) – BSE, Sichuan University, Now – Polymer Chemist, CycloPure, Skokie IL

MaryBeth Wade (2011 – 2016) – BS, University of Akron, Now – Non-clinical Scientist, Cook Research INC, Lafeyette, IN

Erin Childers (2011 – 2016) – BA, Ursuline College, Then – Formulation Scientist Sonoran Biosciences & Adjunct faculty at ASU, Now, Research Scientist, W.R. Gore

Gina Policastro (2011 – 2016) – BS, Washington & Jefferson College, Then – Postdoctoral Fellow Christman & Gianneschi Labs, University of California, San Diego, Now – Research Scientist, Carbon

Yaohua Gao (2011 – 2016) – BS, Nankai University, Now – Research Scientist, 3M

Adrian Defante (2010 – 2016) – BS, University of Cinncinatti, Then – NRC Postdoctoral Fellow, NIST, Now – Staff Scientist, NIST, MSEL

Jinjun Zhou (2010 – 2015) – BS, Nanjing University, Now – Assistant Professor, Nanjing Technical University

Jukuan Zheng (2010 – 2015) – BS, Peking University, Now – Postdoctoral Fellow, Zhenan Bao Lab, Standford

Wen Tang (2009 – 2014) – BS, Peking University, Now – Postdoctoral Fellow Langer Lab, MIT

Yanrui Ma (2009 – 2014) – BS, University of Science and Technology of China, Then – Postdoctoral Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Now – MBA, Emory University

Marcela Castano (2009 – 2014) – BS, Antioqua Univ. – Columbia (w/ J Puskas), Now – Research Scientist, Avery Dennison

Fei Lin (2009 – 2014) – BS, Nankai University, Now – Research Scientist, PolyOne

Tingling Rao (2010 – 2013) – BS, USTC, PhD 2013, Now – Research Scientist, 3M

Jing Yu (2009 – 2012) – BS, USTC (co- w/ G Carri), PhD 2012, Now – Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oklahoma 

MS 3+2 Students

Peiru Chen (2016 – 2018) – BS, Polymer Science, Beijing University of Chemical Engineering, MS 2018, Now – Research Assistant, Northeastern University, MA. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biolpoy

Yusheng Chen (2016 – 2018) – BS, Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, MS 2018, Now – Research Assistant, Westlake Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China. Department of Natural Sciences

Hao Li (2015 – 2017) – BS, Polymer Materials & Engineering, Donghua University, MS 2017, Now – PhD Student, Univeristy of Nottingham

Ronghui Qi (2014 – 2016) – BS, Polymer Science and Engineering, Donghua University, MS 2016, Now – PhD Student, Queens University

Gabrielle Siefert (2014 – 2016) – BS, University of Akron, MS 2016, Now – DMD Student at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine

Geng Hua (2012 – 2014) – BS, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, MS 2014, Now – PhD Student, KTH, Stockholm Sweden

Sibai Xie (2011 – 2013) – BS, Soochow University, MS 2013, Now – PhD student, University of California, San Diego

Tianyi Yu (2011 – 2013) – BS, ECUST, MS 2013, Now – PhD student, Louisiana State University

Undergraduates Mentored

5/2016 – 5/2018       Laura Savariau (Biology, Chemistry), Now – PhD Program Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh

9/2015 – 5/2016       Lauren Breitenstein (Biomedical Engineering)

1/2015 – 5/2016       Bryan Fitch (Chemistry), Now – PhD Program Chemistry, The Ohio State University

1/2015 – 5/2015       Katie Delozier (Biomedical Engineering), Now – MD Student NEOMED

1/2013 – 5/2015      Alex Ellenberger (Honors Biochemistry), Now – MD Student at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences

8/2012 – 5/2014       Gabrielle Siefert (Honors Chemistry), Then – MS 3+2 Student, U of Akron

1/2012 – 5/2014       Sharon Bernard (Honors Biology), Now – MD Student NEOMED

5/2012 – 5/2013       Erin Keane (Chemistry), Now – Chemist, A Schulman

9/2009 – 6/2011       Anna Ganios (Honors Biochemistry), Now – PhD candidate, U of Michigan

6/2009 – 4/2011       Louis Britton (Honors Chemistry), Now – small business owner

3/2010 – 9/2010       Jimmy Miller (Honors Biology)

University of Akron – NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate REU Students

Summer 2018           Anna Campbell-Sowden – Allegheny College

Summer 2018           Nancy Le – University of Colorado Boulder

Summer 2016           Caroline Watt – The Ohio State University

Summer 2016           Olivia Manahan – Colorado State University

Summer 2016           Lindsay Robinson – Univeristy of Minnesota

Summer 2015           Jacob Schimelman – University of California – SD

Summer 2015           Emily O’Brien – The University of Akron

Summer 2014           Justin Harris – Michigan State University

Summer 2013           Redwanna Tassembaum – Robert Morris University

Summer 2012           Emily Amond – St. Vincent College

Summer 2011           Ronna Boettcher – Bemiji State University

Summer 2010           Mina Chen – University of Minnesota

Summer 2010           James Burrows – University of Pittsburgh

NIST

6/2008-9/2008        Bethany Juhnke (Mechanical Engineering)- Undergraduate SURF – Iowa State University, Then, MS, Iowa State University, Dept of Mechanical Engineering

6/2008-9/2008          Joseph C. Sabol (Chemistry)- Undergraduate SURF – Lehigh University – Then, PhD student, Lehigh University, Dept of Material Science

2006-07 Summers    Adrienne H. Smith (Biomedical Engineering)- Undergraduate SURF – Northwestern – Then, MD-PhD student, Northwestern Univ School of Medicine, HMMI fellow 2011

6/2006-9/2006          Kristen E. Roskov (Chemical Engineering)- Undergraduate, University of Maryland – Then, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, NC State, Dept. of Chemical Engineering