Manias Research Group


Evangelos Manias  (www)

Group "Leader"

Graduate Students
 
Theresa Foley

Temperature Responsive Polymers
Charles (Greg) Hogshead
Temperature Responsive Polymers
in Combinatorial Polymeric Brushes
Kiattikhun (Ngoh) Manokruang
pH Responsive Polymers
Romesh Patel
(co-advised w/ C.G. Pantano)
Fundamental Studies of Glass/Polymer
Interfaces, for Composite Materials Applications
Ponusa Songtipya
(co-advised w/ M.M. Jimenez-Gasco)
Novell Polymers and Nanocomposites
for Agricultural Applications
Hungoo Cho
(co-advised w/ D. Macdonald)
(on leave)
High-Temperature Proton Conductive
Membranes for Fuel Cells

Postdoc Associates & Visiting Scientists
 
George Polizos (www, postdoc)
Dielectric Spectroscopic and Fundamentals of
Polymers and Nanocomposites
Jinguo Zhang (postdoc)
Synthesis of Smart Polymers and
Novell Polymer/Inorganic nanocomposites
Kostas S. Andrikopoulos (visiting prof.)
Physics of Smart Polymers and
Raman Spectroscopy

Group Alumni
 
Dr. Jinguo Zhang
(in our group: postdoc 2006-2008)
Polyolefin/Clay Nanocomposites
Last seen at:
BJ Services Co, TX
Research Scientist, Consultant
Dr. Alexei Kisselev
(in our group: Ph.D. 2002-2007)
Ph.D.: Theoretical and computer simulation insights
into stimuli-responsive polymer systems
Now at:
Capital One Financial Group, DC
Senior Analyst, Upmarket Division
Dr. Matthew J. Heidecker
(in our group: Ph.D. 2002-2007)
Ph.D.: High-performance polymer/layered
silicate nanocomposites
Now at:
Emerson Climate Technologies, Sidney, OH
Lead Engineer, Polymers R&D
Sung Woo Wee
(in our group: M.Sc. 2004-2006)
M.Sc.:PE-based/Inorganic Nanocomposites:
Crystallization Behavior and AFM
Now at:
S. Korean Army
Officer, Materiel Command
Argyrios Karatrantos
(in our group: M.Sc. 2004-2006)
M.Sc.: Classical Computer Simulations of
Aqueous Poly(ethylene-oxide) Solutions
Now at:
U of Manchester, UK
Ph.D. student
Dr. Zijie Lu
(in our group: Ph.D. 2000-2005)
Ph.D.: State of water in perfluorosulfonic acid
[Nafion-type] membranes for fuell cells
Last seen at:
Hoku Scientific Inc., Hawaii
R&D, Fuel Cells / MEAs
Dr. Zhiming Wang
(in our group: Ph.D. 2001-2005)
Ph.D.: Synthesis of Functional PP and PVDF
and Application in Nanocomposites
Last seen at:
Chemistry, Northwestern U
Post-Doctoral Associate
Dr. Subhendu Chowdhury
(in our group: postdoc 2005-2006)
Polyolefin/Clay Nanocomposites
Last seen at:
Nano Pulce LLC, NJ
Research Scientist
Dr. Vikram K. Kuppa
(in our group: Ph.D. 1999-2003)
Ph.D.: Poly(ethylene oxide)/Layered-Inorganic
Nanocomposites: A Molecular Modeling Perspective
Now at:
Chemical Engineering, MIT
Post-Doctoral Associate
Dr. Hiroyoshi Nakajima
(in our group: Visiting Scientist 2002-2004)
Polyolefin/Silicate Nanocomposites, and
Polymer Crystallinity next to Inorganic Surfaces
Now at:
Sumitomo Chemical, Japan
Senior R&D Scientist
Dr. Jin Young Huh
(in our group: postdoc 2001-2004)
Epoxy/Silicate Nanocomposites (2001-3)
LDPE and LLDPE/clay Hybrids (2003-4)
Now at:
Samsung Cheil Industries, Korea
Principal Research Engineer, Advanced Technology Group
Dr. Ken Strawhecker
(in our group: Ph.D. 1998-2002)
Ph.D.: AFM of Semicrystalline Polymers
near Surfaces and in Nanocomposites
Now at:
Army Research Lab, MD
Senior Research Scientist
Zhi-Ming Wang (M.Sc.)
(in our group: M.Sc. 2001-2003)
M.Sc.: Synthesis of functionalized i-PP & s-PS,
and application in nanocomposites
Now at:
MatSE, Northwestern U
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sirilak Menakanit (M.Sc.)
(in our group: M.Sc. 2000-2002)
M.Sc.: Synthesis and Functionalization of
inorganic nanofillers for polymer matrices
Now at:
Ceramic Industry Development Center
Lampang, Thailand
Staff Scientist
Jie Chen (M.Sc. MBA)
(in our group: M.Sc. 1998-2000)
M.Sc.:AFM of MEMS & Polymer Composites
Last seen at:
Kennametal Industries
Inform. Manag. Analyst
Dr. Mindaugas Rackaitis
(in our group: postdoc 2001-2003)
New Approaches for AFM of Polymers, and
Temperature-Responsive Polymers
Now at:
Bridgestone/Firestone Central R&D
Head, Microscopy Facility
Dr. Yang Jiang
(in our group: postdoc 2002-2003)
Melt-Processable PET/clay Nanocomposites
for Barrier Applications
Last seen at:
ConStar International Inc.
Permeation Scientist
Dr. Youngkyu Chang
(in our group: postdoc 2002-2003)
Synthesis of Polymers for high-Temperature
Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells
Last seen at:
Samsung, Korea
Senior Researcher, Central R&D
Dr. Lixin Wu
(in our group: postdoc 1999-2000)
PP/fluoroorganic-clay Nanocomposites
Last seen at:
Mater & Electrochem Res Corp, Tuscon, AZ
Research Scientist

UnderGraduate Students
 
Andrea Fortunato
(class 2008)
Senior Project (2007-8): pH-Responsive Copolymers
WISER Research (2005): Smart Polymers for Aerospace Applications
REU Research (2005): Fundamentals of Smart Polymers
Erica Redline
(class 2006)
Senior Project: Formation and Crystallization Studies of high performance PC/PET blends and their nanocomposites
Nyra Khetarpal
(class 2007)
WISER Project: Antifungal character of organically-modified clays and their polymer-based nanocomposites
Mark Haracznak
(class 2004)
Senior Project: Gas Counter Pressure for Polymer Injection Molding (incl. COOP with Bayer-Plastics)
Seth Thomas Stewart
(class 2004)
Senior Project: Epoxy impregnation of 3D interconnected ceramic networks
Danny Frazier
(class 2004)
Senior Project: Polymer reinforced percolating porous-ceramic nanocomposites
Kevin L. Urman
(class 2002)
Senior Project: Barrier/Mechanical Property Optimization for Biomedical Polymer Materials (SROP)
Mike Irwin
(class 2002)
Senior Project: Fluorinated Olefins: Model Systems to Tailor Surface Adhesion through Changes in Chemistry
Alex McCambridge
(class 2002)
Senior Project: Java modules for educational www sites. Towards an e-verion of PLMSE406
Matthew G. Cunningham
(class 2002)
Senior Project: Effect of interfacial adhesion on the mechanical properties of epoxy/inorganic nanocomposites
Patrick M. Horan
(class 2002)
Senior Project: Permeability of biomedical polymers and their composites
Qaadir Siddeeq
(Purdue U, 2003)
Minority Exchange Research: Development of polymer composites with inorganic fillers for biomedical applications (SROP)
David Robbins
(class 2003)
Summer Research Project, REU: Computer visualization of molecules using Java
Contact Information
Labs:
228 & 229 Steidle Bldg
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

tel: (814) 863-2835

PENNSTATE   
Office:
325-D Steidle Bldg
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

tel: (814) 863-2980
fax: (814) 865-2917

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