Professor Jim Watkins has been elected a 2012 APS Fellow (American Physical Society) by the Division of Polymer Physics for his pioneering efforts in manipulating polymers to develop technologically functional nanoscopic materials. Jim will be recognized at the upcoming APS March Meeting.
UMass Amherst polymer scientists Kenneth Carter and James Watkins, collaborating with team leader Francesco Fornasiero of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), recently received a five-year $1.8 million grant to design ways to manufacture the new material as part of a $13 million project funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency. It’s estimated that the new uniforms could be deployed in the field in less than 10 years.
Alfred J. Crosby, an investigator in the CHM from Polymer Science and Engineering, has been promoted to full Professor effective September 1, 2012. Al's research interests include the mechanics of hierarchical structures, polymer adhesion, biomimetic materials design, responsive surfaces and materials, elastic instabilities; deformation and fracture of thin films, polymer patterning; nanocomposites and combinatorial methods.
As a participant in the CHM, he is collaborating with Professor Ken Carter to develop new methods to overcome existing challenges in the use of nanoimprinting patterning on flexible substrates in a roll-to-roll configuration. In addition, Al has collaborated with Professor Todd Emrick to develop a robust, scalable process for manufacturing assemblies that can be integrated into flow-coating to assemble periodic polymer and/or nanoparticle line patterns with controlled dimensions.
Assistant Professor Alejandro Briseño received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on July 23rd. Briseño was cited for "outstanding research accomplishments in areas of organic semiconductor nanoelectronics and molecular crystals and breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of organic interfacial crystallization." Alex is one of only 96 scientists and engineers this year to receive the PECASE award which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.
Gregory M. Grason, assistant professor of Polymer Science and Engineering is among 126 researchers in the United States and Canada to be awarded prestigious Sloan Research Fellowships by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Jeffrey Morse, managing director of the National Nanomanufacturing Network at the campus's NSF Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, was recently named one of the 25 "Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders" by the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association.
Professor Mark T. Tuominen, co-Director of the CHM, has recently (November 2011) been named a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) for his contributions to nanoscale science and technology.
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst has received a five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a national research center on nanomanufacturing. The grant will fund the university’s Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (CHM).
A signature CHM effort is focused on roll-to-roll nanoscale processing of flexible electronics and high technology devices such as solar cells, cell phone displays, batteries and sensors. Roll-to-roll processing is similar to how photographic film moves through a camera from one spindle to another or how newspapers are printed, but with chemical and physical processing in between.
Professor Jim Watkins has been elected a 2012 APS Fellow (American Physical Society) by the Division of Polymer Physics for his pioneering efforts in manipulating polymers to develop technologically functional nanoscopic materials. Jim will be recognized at the upcoming APS March Meeting.
Alfred J. Crosby, an investigator in the CHM from Polymer Science and Engineering, has been promoted to full Professor effective September 1, 2012. Al's research interests include the mechanics of hierarchical structures, polymer adhesion, biomimetic materials design, responsive surfaces and materials, elastic instabilities; deformation and fracture of thin films, polymer patterning; nanocomposites and combinatorial methods. 
Assistant Professor Alejandro Briseño received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on July 23rd. Briseño was cited for "outstanding research accomplishments in areas of organic semiconductor nanoelectronics and molecular crystals and breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of organic interfacial crystallization." Alex is one of only 96 scientists and engineers this year to receive the PECASE award which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.
Gregory M. Grason, assistant professor of Polymer Science and Engineering is among 126 researchers in the United States and Canada to be awarded prestigious Sloan Research Fellowships by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. 
Jeffrey Morse, managing director of the National Nanomanufacturing Network at the campus's NSF Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, was recently named one of the 25 "Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders" by the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association. 
Professor Mark T. Tuominen, co-Director of the CHM, has recently (November 2011) been named a 
