2. WHAT IS THE SCHOOL OF POLYMERS AND
HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS?
• A DIVISION OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT USM
• THE SCHOOL OF POLYMERS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS OFFERS
TWO DEGREES:
• POLYMER SCIENCE – ESTABLISHED OVER 40 YEARS AGO
• INTERDISCIPLINARY, FOCUS IS ON CHEMISTRY OF POLYMERS
• POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING – ESTABLISHED IN 2012
• INTERDISCIPLINARY, FOCUS IS ON MATHEMATICS/ENGINEERING OF
POLYMERS
3. STATE OF THE ART FACILITY
• $30 Million Dedicated
Building
• 106,000 sq. ft.
• 10 Full Research
Groups
• Modern Instrumentation
• Full Auditorium
4. WHAT DO WE DO WITH POLYMERS?
• WHAT IS A POLYMER?
• LARGE MOLECULES THAT
ARE MADE OF REPEATING
UNITS OF SMALLER
MOLECULES
• LIKE LINKS IN A CHAIN
Gasoline ~ 4 Units
Wax ~ 12 Units
Polyethylene ~ 40,000 Units
Ethylene
Molecule
Monomer → Polymer
Mono (one) mer (part) → Poly (many) mer (part)
5. WHAT DOES A POLYMER SCIENTIST OR ENGINEER
DO?
• DESIGN AND DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS FOR
EXISTING APPLICATIONS
• DESIGN AND DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS FOR
APPLICATIONS THAT CAN’T EXIST WITHOUT
NEW MATERIALS
• DEVELOP NEW PROCESSES TO MAKE
MATERIALS
• DEVELOP NEW APPROACHES TO OLD
PROBLEMS
• DETERMINE THE RIGHT MATERIALS FOR A
GIVEN PURPOSE
POLYMER SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WORK
TOWARD SOLUTIONS TO IMPORTANT PROBLEMS
EVERYDAY
9. RESEARCH
• WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH HAPPENS AT A UNIVERSITY?
• UNIVERSITIES CAN DO RESEARCH THAT INDUSTRIES CAN’T DO, SUCH AS CUTTING EDGE,
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH OR SHORT TERM PROBLEM SOLVING UTILIZING FACULTY EXPERTISE
• OFTEN LEADS TO PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS
• 42 INDIVIDUAL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS FROM SPHPM RESEARCHERS IN 2012
• IS FUNDED BY EXTERNAL SOURCES
• $6 MILLION IN RESEARCH FUNDING AWARDED TO SPHPM FACULTY IN 2012
10. WHAT RESEARCH IS DONE HERE?
Polymer Engineering
Coatings and Films
Biomedical Research
Polymer Synthesis
Composites
Surfaces and interfaces
• Nano-engineered materials
• Membranes and fuel cells
• Polymer processing and
rheology
• “Green” coatings
• Polymer photochemistry
• High solids, waterborne and
solvent based systems
• Biopolymers and biomimetic
polymers
• Pharmaceutical polymers
• Controlled free radical
polymerization
• Living polymerization
• Functional polymers
• Biodegradable materials
•Polymer Composites
•High performance materials
•Sports equipment
•Airplanes
• Stimuli responsive materials
• Anti-microbial surfaces
• Ultra-low friction surfaces
11. WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH WILL AN
UNDERGRADUATE ACTUALLY DO?
• SPONSORED BY MAJOR COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, OR
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
• WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH DOCTORAL CANDIDATES AND FACULTY
MEMBERS
• REAL WORLD NEEDS REQUIRE REAL WORLD SOLUTIONS
• RESULTS CAN LEAD TO PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AT NATIONAL OR
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, PATENTS, AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
12. THE UNDERGRAD LIFESTYLE
• 77 TOTAL UNDERGRADUATES
• MAKING FRIENDS THAT SHARE COMMON GOALS
• NETWORKING AND BUILDING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
• CHALLENGING CLASSES THAT PREPARE YOU FOR REAL WORLD
PROBLEMS
• ROAD TRIPS TO EXPLORE COMPANIES
13. BENEFITS OF ENGAGING IN EARLY
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
• HOURLY WAGES
• REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
• OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR
• INCREASES PRESTIGE AND EASE OF PLACEMENT (GRADUATE
SCHOOL OR EMPLOYMENT)
• TRAVEL TO CONFERENCES
14. LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
• 50% GRADUATE SCHOOL
• 50% INDUSTRY
• AVERAGE SALARY FOLLOWING GRADUATION
AVERAGE STARTING SALARY - MID 50K
HIGH STARTING SALARIES - 65K
• 99% JOB PLACEMENT WITHIN 4 MONTHS
• 90% JOB PLACEMENT PRIOR TO GRADUATION
• EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!
15. A WORLDWIDE RESPECT AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR EDUCATION
• A WORLD RECOGNIZED EDUCATION FROM MISSISSIPPI
• OUR OWN SYMPOSIUMS HOST FIELD LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE
GLOBE
• GRADUATES ARE HIRED WORLD WIDE
