Previous Group Members

Ph.D. Students Graduated

Yannic J. Gagnon
Ph.D. Physics 2022
Dissertation: "Uncovering the Role of Neighboring Domain Modulus on the Local Glass Transition and Shear Wave Propagation in Nanostructured Polymeric Materials"

B.S. Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa
2020-2021 Montag Physics Award for research
Currently working in research for Department of Defense.

Yixuan (Louis) Han
Ph.D. Physics 2022
Dissertation: "Developing Experimental Methods to Investigate Local Changes in Density and Dynamics of Thin Polymer Films"

B.S. Physics, Nankai University, China
Currently working in geosciences for CGG.

Michael F. Thees
Ph.D. Physics 2020
Dissertation: "Uncovering the Unexpected Role Chain Connectivity has on Altering Dynamics of Thin Glassy Polymer Films Near Interfaces"

B.A. Physics, Boston University, USA
Co-Chair of 2018 GRS on Polymer Physics; selected for Emory's 2017-2018 SIRE program
Currently postdoc at University of Waterloo, Canada.

Xinru Huang
Ph.D. Physics 2018
Dissertation: "Comparing Measures of Global and Local Material Properties of Polystyrene under Different Boundary Conditions: Smooth, Chain-Tethered, and Rough Walls"

B.S. Physics, Shihezi University, China
selected for Emory's 2016-2017 ORDER program
Currently working at Porsche.

Roman R. Baglay
Ph.D. Physics 2017
Dissertation: "Local Glass Transition Gradients near Dissimilar Polymer-Polymer Interfaces in Nanostructured Polymeric Materials"

B.S. Physics, New York University, USA
2016-2017 Montag Physics Award for research
Currently working at Intel.

Laura A. G. Gray
Ph.D. Physics 2015
Dissertation: "Formation of Polymer Glasses: Impact of Mechanical Deformation and Cooling Conditions on Physical Aging"

B.S. Physics, North Carolina State University, USA
Selected for Padden Symposium by DPOLY at APS March Meeting 2015; 2014-2015 Montag Physics Award for research; Chair of 2014 GRS on Polymer Physics; selected to attend the 2012 Lindau Nobel Meeting in Germany; selected for Emory's 2012-2013 ORDER program
Currently working at Solvay, after a postdoc at Princeton University.

Annika Kriisa
Ph.D. Physics 2015
Dissertation: "Influence of Electric Fields on the Miscibility of Polystyrene / Poly(vinyl methyl ether) Blends"

B.S. and M.S. Physics, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Currently postdoc at Georgia State University.

Justin E. Pye
Ph.D. Physics 2014
Dissertation: "Glass Transition and Physical Aging Behavior of Thin Free-Standing and Supported Polystyrene Films"

B.S. Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Winner of the Padden Award from DPOLY at APS March Meeting 2014; selected to attend the 2012 Lindau Nobel Meeting in Germany
Currently working at Arizona State University with SciHub.

Masters Students Graduated

Kelsey Hattam
M.S. Physics 2013
MS Thesis: "Effect of a Glassy-Glassy Polymer Interface on the Physical Aging of Polystyrene"

B.A. Physics, Smith College, USA

Elizabeth A. Baker
M.S. Physics 2009
MS Thesis: "Physical Aging of Confined Polymer Films by Use of a New Streamlined Ellipsometry Procedure"

B.S. Physics, Bucknell University, USA

Honors Students Graduated

William A. Presson
BS Physics 2024
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Investigating Light-Induced Film Thickness Changes in Polymer Films Labeled with an Azo Dye"

Ruoyu (Carl) Li
BS Physics 2024
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Investigate the Effect of End-tethered Chains and Loops on the Local Glass Transition Temperature of Polystyrene Thin Films"

Sunmin Kim
BS Physics 2023
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Mixed Proportions of Paraloid B-72 and B-48N as Structural Adhesives for Art Conservation: Evaluations of Tensile Strength and Glass Transition"

Olivia L. F. Boyd
B.S. Physics 2020
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Design and Construction of a Tensile and Shear Strength Testing Apparatus to Study the Addition of Fumed Silica to the Acrylic Adhesive B-72 Used in Art Conservation"

Alan C. W. Rohrbach
B.S. Physics & Math minor 2019
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Swelling of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films in Different Solvent Vapor Environments: A Comparison of Solvents Used in Nanolithographic Processing"

Benjamin L. Kasavan
B.S. Engineering Sciences, Physics 2019
High Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "A Study of the Physical Properties of Acrylic Polymers Commonly Used in Art Conservation"

Jennifer A. McGuire
B.S. Physics & Computer Science 2018
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Role of Glassy-Rubbery Interfaces on the Physical Aging of Glassy Polymer Thin Films"

Grad student at Havard University, Applied Physics

Phillip M. Rauscher
B.S. Physics & Chemistry 2013
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Effect of Adjacent Rubbery Layers of the Physical Aging of Polymer Glasses"

2020 PhD University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering with Juan de Pablo; now at Solvay

Sung S. Park
B.S. Physics 2012
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Fluorescence Study of Polystyrene / Poly(vinyl methyl ether) Polymer Blends and Effect of Electric Fields on their Miscibility"

Suk Whan (Paul) Yoon
B.S. Physics 2012
Highest Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Effect of Thermal Conditions and Mechanical Stress During Vitrification on Physical Aging of Thin Polymer Films"

Sandra Boyce-Smith
B.A. Chemistry 2010
Honors
BS Honors Thesis: "Fluorescence Studies of Polystyrene in Polystyrene/Poly(vinyl methyl ether) Blends and Multilayers"