This year, the Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY) within the American Chemical Society (ACS) welcomed seven new fellows, including Texas A&M University's esteemed academics Dr. Jaime Grunlan and Dr. Emily Pentzer.
Reflecting on the honor, Grunlan remarked, “For me, it is like an early lifetime achievement award. The list of those with the POLY Fellow designation are the ‘who’s who’ of the polymer world.”
The POLY Fellows program honors exceptional contributions in advancing the realm of polymer science, whether through significant scientific achievements, dedicated service to the profession, or a combination of both.
Pentzer, expressing her gratitude, stated, “I was both surprised and delighted to be selected for this honor. I love the polymer science community and the connection that societies such as the ACS and POLY division help to create, so the recognition of my contributions is very meaningful.”
In the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pentzer leads pioneering studies on organic materials, covering their preparation, characterization, and practical applications. In the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Grunlan investigates protective polymeric materials, particularly nanocomposites, and he is known for groundbreaking research on environmentally friendly flame-retardant treatments for a range of substrates such as wood, polyurethane foam, and polyester fabric.