Kumaranand Palaniappan - Postdoctoral fellows

Research projects: Cojugated Polymer- Quantum Dot Networks for Hybrid Solar Cells Applications.

Kumar obtained his bachelors degree in Chemical & Electrochemical Engineering. He earned his Ph.D in Chemistry from Michigan Tech University. His research interests include conjugated polymers and synthesis of novel nanomaterials for photovoltaic devices.

Nadia Hundt - Ph.D. Student

Research projects: Supramolecular Organization in Electronic Polymers

Nadia's current research project involves in the synthesis of rod-rod block coplymers containing conjugated polymers and helical liquid crystalline polymers. These materials are likely to have a different phase separation behavior as compared with rod-coil copolymers. Optical and electrical properties are expected to vary as a function of the nature of the liquid crystalline block and the relative ratio of the blocks.
Nadia recieved her B.S. and M.S. in chemistry from UTD. Her advisor was Dr. Kenneth Balkus Jr.

Mussie Alemseghed - Ph.D. Student

Research projects: Polythiophene Block Copolymers by Combination of Living Polymerization Techniques

Prakash Sista - Ph.D. Student

Research projects: Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Jing Hao - Ph.D. Student

Research projects:
Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymers for Drug Delivery

Hien Nguyen - Ph.D. Student

Research projects: Artificial Muscle Base on Conducting Polymer

Hien's research project involves in developing a new type of polymer that shows not only conductivity but also elasticity behavior. It is expected that the polymer expands and contracts in response to the application of a small electric current. If successfully made, the conductive polymer is then further optimized to have stress strain behavior as close as possible to that of biological muscle tissues. This project is in collaboration with Dr Ray Baughman of NanoTech Institute.
Educational experience: B.S., Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas (2008).