Polymer Chemistry
M.S., M.P.S. and Ph.D.

Introduction

Graduate students in polymer chemistry select their courses from a range of offerings in chemistry, chemical engineering, mathematics, physics, and other appropriate areas. These courses will include either the one-year sequence in physical or organic chemistry of polymers and such additional courses as the student and advisor consider necessary. Special topics in a spectrum of polymer fields are offered or can be arranged in consultation with the faculty.

Research is an essential component of any graduate degree program in polymer chemistry. Current areas of polymer research include the following:

1. Achieving ultimate properties in polymer materials (Smith)
2. Biomass conversion to industrial polysaccharides (Stipanovic, Winter)
3. Catalysis and mechanisms of polymerization, chemistry of free radicals, radical ions and charge transfer processes (Smid)
4. Dendrimers and hyperbranched molecules (Gitsov)
5. Diffraction methods, NMR, and dynamic molecular modeling approaches to polymer structure determination and prediction (Sarko, Winter)
6. Inorganic polymers (Smid, Cabasso)
7. Ion-binding, polyelectrolytes, conductivity, properties of ionic solutions in non-aqueous media (Smid)
8. Novel methods of cellulose and cellulosic modification (Caluwe, Stipanovic, Winter)
9. Percolation methods in theoretical polymer chemistry (Chatterjee )
10. Polymer based nanocomposites ( Stipanovic, Winter)
11. Preparation, modification, and technology of polymeric membranes (Cabasso)
12. Preparation and characterization of functional polymers (Gitsov)
13. Preparation, properties, and applications of radiopaque polymers (Cabasso, Smid)
14. Stimuli responsive materials (Stipanovic, Winter)
15. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of polymer systems (Chatterjee,Smith)
16. Engineering biocatalysts for biopolymer production (Nomura)

Prospective graduate students are strongly encouraged to contact any professor whose research is of interest!

Faculty and their Specialties

Follow the links immediately below for detailed descriptions of research of any professor. Many other useful links are found just below the listing of faculty.

• Dr. Israel Cabasso (Polymer Chemistry and Membrane Science)
• Dr. Paul M. Caluwe (Organic Chemistry, Synthetic Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Avik Chatterjee (Theoretical Polymer and Physical Chemistry)
• Dr. Ivan Gitsov (Synthesis and Characterization of Dendrimers, Hyperbranched, and other Nanostructured Polymers)
• Dr. Christopher T. Nomura (Biochemistry and Biopolymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Anatole Sarko, Emeritus (Physical, Computational and Biopolymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Johannes Smid, Emeritus (Organic and Physical Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Kenneth J. Smith, Jr., Emeritus (Physical and Theoretical Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Arthur J. Stipanovic., Director of Analytical and Technical Services (Polymer Chemistry, Characterization, Rheology)
• Dr. William T. Winter (Structural Polymer Chemistry, NMR, Diffraction, Biopolymer and Polysaccharide Chemistry)

Financial Support

Selected applicants to the graduate program will be offered a full tuition waiver and a 12 month stipend that will cover their living expenses, and the costs of books and fees. Students are supported primarily as research assistants rather than teaching assistants, and as a result they have more time to devote to their research.

Request an Application to the Graduate Program:

Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies
SUNY-ESF
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-6595
esfgrad@esf.edu

If you want more information, please follow this link to a brief form.