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