THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPISCHOOL OF POLYMERS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
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
STATE OF THE ART FACILITY
• $30 Million Dedicated
Building
• 106,000 sq. ft.
• 10 Full Research
Groups
• Modern Instrumentation
• Full Auditorium
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)
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
WHAT
PROBLEMS CAN
POLYMERS HELP
SOLVE?
ENERGY
MILITARY AND MILITARY SAFETY
ENVIRONMENTAL
RECYCLING
GREEN MATERIALS
MEDICAL PROBLEMS
DRUG DELIVERY
PROSTHETICS
POLYMER APPLICATIONS
• COATINGS
• FIBERS
• PLASTICS
• ADHESIVES
• COSMETICS
• OIL INDUSTRY
• RUBBER
• COMPOSITES
• PAPER
• TEXTILES/CLOTHING
• WATER TREATMENT
• BIOMEDICAL
• PHARMACEUTICAL
• AUTOMOTIVE
APPLICATIONS
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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