12:56 p.m., April 14, 2009----Two students in the University of Delaware's College of Engineering have received Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Awards from the American Chemical Society (ACS).

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Shuang Liu, a Ph.D. candidate in materials science, and Monica Branco, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering, were honored at the 237th ACS National Meeting and Exposition held March 22-26 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both students were invited to present papers at the conference.

Liu is working in the lab of Kristi Kiick, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and is investigating the impact of polymer architecture on toxin binding.

Branco is co-advised by Norman Wagner, Alvin B. and Julia O. Stiles Professor of Chemical Engineering and chairperson of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Joel Schneider, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research uses state-of-the-art methods of interrogation of nanostructured materials to elucidate the relationship between the molecular structure and macroscopic properties of hydrogels composed of novel, self-assembled peptides.

After she completes her Ph.D. later this year, Liu plans to obtain postdoctoral training and then seek a position as a research faculty member in the biomaterials field.

Branco, who will also finish her degree in 2009, plans to pursue a career in industry, primarily in pharmaceutical research. “I believe the design and application of biomaterials for therapeutic delivery and tissue engineering will play an important role in medicine as more biologics come out to the market,” she said, “emphasizing the need for materials scientists and engineers.”

“This award is very important for me not only because the innovation and significance of our work have been recognized by ACS,” Liu said, “but also because the award has encouraged me to pursue my career goal of academic biomaterials research.”

“It is an honor to be recognized among many national peers for my work in the polymer field,” Branco added. “I am proud of the research I have been able to accomplish under the guidance of Dr. Wagner and Dr. Schneider here at the University of Delaware, and it is a privilege to showcase it at such a renowned symposium.”

Both of the students' advisers spoke highly of the quality and impact of their award-winning research.

“Shuang Liu's research has provided new insight for the community and enables the design of efficient polymeric inhibitors and effectors of biological processes,” Kiick said. “The recognition of her work in materials science and engineering is well deserved.”

“Monica is an extraordinary graduate student who chose to undertake truly interdisciplinary research,” Wagner said. “Her work, which will appear shortly in Biomacromolecules, is highly relevant for the rational engineering of new peptide-based materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Monica's research is truly interdisciplinary, involving peptides and experimental methods from biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and soft condensed matter physics.”

Article by Diane Kukich