E. Bryan Coughlin
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Degree Information:
B.A. Chemistry, Grinnell College 1988
Ph.D. Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1993
Mailing Address:
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
Room A612, Conte Research Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
120 Governors Drive
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone:
413-577-1616
Email:
coughlin@mail.pse.umass.edu
Fax:
413-545-0082
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Research Interests:
Tailoring Chemical Functionality into Functional Polymeric Materials
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Current Research:
The research my students and I conduct at the University of
Massachusetts is broadly based and can be summarized in the statement,
"Tailoring Chemical Functionality to Generate Functional Polymeric
Materials". We strive, through development and adaptation of
synthetic methods, to create new polymeric materials with properties
suitable for a range of demanding applications. Our projects begin
with synthesis as a major motivator, however characterization studies
to test our hypotheses and to inform the next round of synthetic
efforts is also given significant emphasis. Our efforts can be
sub-divided into four project areas:
Ion Transport in Organic Materials. Ion transport in
complex heterogeneous organic media is ubiquitous to many important
energy conversion devices, particularly fuel cells that have the
potential to revolutionize energy conversion.
Novel Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Copolymers.
Synthetic strategies to generate ordered, nanometer length scale
inorganic domains within polymer matrices are being developed using
polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, or icosahedral closo
dicarbadodecaboranes.
Fire-Safe Polymers and Polymer Composites.
Advanced polymeric materials with improved burn resistance are being
developed to reduce fire deaths in civilian and military
transportation, or other areas of limited egress.
Precisely Functionalized Polymers. Block
copolymers with junctions between the two block that undergo mild
cleavage with either protonolysis or photolysis are being prepared and
utilized to generate nanoporous templates.
Honors and Distinctions:
- NSF CAREER AWARD (2003-2007)
- DuPont Young Faculty Award (2003-2005)
- UMass Distinguished Teaching Award Nominee (2003-2004)
- 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Awards (2000, 2001, 2002)
- Mettler-Toledo Edith M. Turri Thermal Analysis Grant (2002)
- OMNOVA Solutions Signature University Faculty Award (2000)
- UMass Polymer Science and Engineering Dept. Most Outstanding Professor Award (2000)
- California Catalysis Society Graduate Student Award (1992)
- W.R. Grace Graduate Fellowship (1990)
- American Institute of Chemists Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major Award (1988)
