Course Overview | Course Schedule | Abstracts | Lecturer Bios
Michael F. Cunningham
Michael Cunningham is a Professor of Chemical Engineering (with a cross-appointment to the Department of Chemistry) at Queen’s University, Canada. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Waterloo, he spent six years in the Xerox Corporate Research Group before accepting a faculty position at Queen’s. His research program involves the study of polymer colloids, carbon dioxide switchable polymers, living radical polymerization, and the graft modification of natural polymers such as chitosan and cellulose nanocrystals. He is the recipient of the Syncrude Canada Innovation Award, presented by Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (awarded to a resident of Canada who has made a distinguished contribution in the field of chemical engineering before the age of 40) and the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Award, and is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Institute of Canada. He serves on the technical advisory board of GreenCentre Canada, whose mandate is to commercialize emerging green chemistry innovations originating from academic research, and is Chair of the International Polymer Colloids Group.
Michael F. Cunningham
michael.cunningham@queensu.ca
Mohamed S. El-Aasser
Mohamed El-Aasser, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University. Served Lehigh over the past 45 years as Vice President for International Affairs, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, Chairman of Chemical Engineering Department, Director of Emulsion Polymers Institute, Director of Center of Polymer Science and Engineering, and Director of the NSF Polymer Interfaces Center.
Areas of research interest include polymer colloids, emulsion polymerization, latex particle morphology, film formation, surfactants and colloidal stability. Pioneered the field of miniemulsions and related polymer latex systems. Authored more than 400 articles, edited 5 books and holds 9 U.S patents. Advised 67 & co-advised 32 PhD students, 53 Masters and 31 postdocs. Delivered numerous invited lectures at national and international conferences.
Degrees include BS & MS from Alexandria University, Egypt; Ph.D. from McGill University, Canada. Awards include 1984 NASA Inventor of the Year Award , 2002 Tess Award in Coatings ACS – Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE), the 2007 Fellow of the ACS – PMSE, the 1988 Eleanor and Joseph Libsch Research Award, in recognition of outstanding research at Lehigh University, and Lehigh University’s 1999 Hillman Extraordinary Service Award.
Mohamed S. El-Aasser
mse0@lehigh.edu
Bedri Erdem
Bedri Erdem earned his BSc and MSc degrees in Chemistry and Polymer Chemistry from Karadeniz (Blacksea) Technical University. He has completed his Ph.D. at Lehigh University with a Degree in Polymer Science and Engineering from Emulsion Polymers Institute. He worked for Dow Chemical Company for 11 years working in Polyurethanes, Emulsion Polymers and finally in Dow Coating Materials Businesses as Global Technology Leader for Automotive Coatings. He joined Epoxy Specialty Business of Hexion Specialty Chemicals as technology leader in 2010 leading NA R&D team for global new technology development and becamey Global R&D Director of Hexion’s Epoxy Specialties Business for Coatings, Civil Engineering and Fiber Sizing segments. Dr Erdem currently is Vice President of R&D at Rust-Oleum Corporation. Dr. Erdem has about 40 publications in various peer-review journals and prestigious trade and conference articles. He has been invited speaker in key Polymer Colloids conferences. He has over 10 granted patents and about 40 patent applications.
Bedri Erdem
bedri.erdem@rustoleum.com
Andrew D. Hollingsworth
Research Professor of Physics at New York University; Managing Director and Senior Research Scientist, Center for Soft Matter Research at NYU. Industrial experience in polyolefin technology with Hercules Inc. Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University. Research interests include emulsion and dispersion polymerization, sol-gel process, particle characterization, colloidal model systems, and colloidal self-assembly.
Andrew D. Hollingsworth
andrewdh@nyu.edu
Peter A. Lovell
Peter A. Lovell is a Professor Emeritus of Polymer Science in the Department of Materials of the School of Natural Sciences at The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He was founding Chairman of the UK Polymer Colloids Forum, which was established in 1993, and was Chairman of Macro Group UK from 2004-2007. His research focuses mainly around aspects of emulsion polymerization and related processes. Prominent in this research has been synthesis of core-shell and multi-layer particles (for applications in toughening plastics and as soft adhesives) and studies of the chemistry (and extent) of branching and grafting, including grafting to water-soluble polymeric colloid stabilizers. Recent research includes a novel chemistry for room-temperature crosslinking during latex film formation, synthesis of new nitroxides for use in controlled miniemulsion polymerization, development of click chemistry for latex particle functionalization and the lead role in a European collaborative research programme for development of high-performance water-borne pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Peter A. Lovell
pete.lovell@manchester.ac.uk
Ying-Yuh Lu
Ying-Yuh Lu graduated from Emulsion Polymers Institute at Lehigh University with Ph.D. degree in Polymer Science and Engineering in 1988, and joined 3M the same year. He has worked in waterborne pressure sensitive adhesives, primers and coatings for applications including Scotch® Tapes and Post-it® Notes for 30 years. Ying-Yuh holds 49 U.S. patents and was inducted into 3M Carlton Society, 3M’s Hall of Fame for Scientists, in 2010. He retired as a Corporate Scientist in 3M Stationery and Office Supplies Division in 2018.
Ying-Yuh Lu
yingyuhlu@gmail.com
Christopher M. Miller, PhD
Sr. Director Global Market Management, Coating Solutions, Arkema
Chris Miller is a highly accomplished R&D Leader with over 25 years of industry experience in polymeric materials designed to improve the performance of various different types of coatings, functional materials, and plastics applications. In his current role he is responsible for the Global R&D organization of Arkema Coating Resins (ACR), a greater than $1Billion business unit of Arkema Group. ACR manufactures polymer binders and additives for architectural coatings, industrial coatings, pressure sensitive adhesives, construction products, PVC plastics, engineering plastics and a variety of other applications. Technology focus areas for ACR include novel synthetic latexes including post-emulsified materials, polyester powders, performance additives, and high-performance solvent-borne acrylic technologies.
Chris is also a recognized thought leader in the field of Sustainable Development for the Coating Industry. Within Arkema, Chris has the role of Sustainable Development Technical Coordinator for the Coating Solutions Segment. In this role, Chris has had the opportunity network with customers and suppliers and present information around the world. Chris was the invited Keynote speaker at the 2021 Western Coating Show, the 2022 PCI Powder Coating Conference, and the 2022 Adhesives and Sealants Council Sustainability Forum.
After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University, Chris went on to earn his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1994. Following his PhD, Chris completed a post-doctoral assignment at The University of Sydney before starting his industrial career at Union Carbide Corporation. Since that time, he has had the opportunity to be involved with a number of exciting projects and roles in R&D leadership, culminating in his current position.
Bernd Reck
Bernd Reck is currently a Vice President for Polymer Colloid Technology in BASF’s division for Advanced Materials and Systems Research. After obtaining his PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz/Germany with Prof. Ringsdorf, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose/CA USA with Prof. C. Grant Willson. Dr. Reck joint BASF in 1989. After holding different positions in research, product development and technical marketing for polymer dispersions, he was named Head of Marketing Fiber Bonding Europe in 2001, responsible for the business with acrylic dispersions and resins for nonwovens and other fibrous materials. In 2008, he returned to BASF’s Polymer Research Division taking over his current position as group leader for Polymer Colloid Technology. His group conducts research on the stabilization and crosslinking of polymer latexes, structure-property understanding of polymer dispersions for coatings, adhesives and construction applications as well as process technology development for polyacrylate and polyurethane dispersions. Dr. Reck is an active member of the International Polymer Colloids Group and will chair the 2021 IPCG conference.
Bernd Reck
bernd.reck@basf.com
Joseph Schork
Professor Emeritus, Georgia Institute of Technology. Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin working in the field of emulsion polymerization reactor dynamics. Industrial experience with E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company in the areas of emulsion polymerization and digital process control. Research interests in emulsion polymerization, polymerization reaction engineering, digital control of polymerization reactors, system dynamics and nonlinear control. Consultant to various companies in the area of polymerization reaction engineering.
Joseph Schork
joseph.schork@chbe.gatech.edu
Cesar A. Silebi
Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University. Ph.D. from Lehigh University. Research interests include particle separation processes, rheological and colloidal properties of latexes, multi-component transport in emulsions, and stability of colloidal systems.
Cesar Silebi
cas5@lehigh.edu
Donna Visioli
Donna Visioli received her PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from Lehigh University in 1984, after which she joined E I Dupont de Nemours. She held roles in research as well as in product, business, and market development. Her development activities at DuPont focused on barrier polymers, multilayer films, and packaging applications, in particular innovative food packaging applications, and environmental sustainability of plastics. An author of numerous scientific articles, Dr. Visioli holds more than 25 U.S. patents and 50 international patents.
Donna Visioli
dlv701@yahoo.com
