Graduate Student
John M. Toribio
Contact info: john.toribio@uconn.edu
Education: BS in ACS-Certified Chemistry and Physics from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY (2020)
Experience: Flavorings Compounder at Flavormatic Industries Inc.
Undergraduate Research in Synthesis of Halogenated Ynamides
Research Interests: Design and synthesis of bio-based polymers and sustainable electroactive polymers for wearable tech.
Education: BS in ACS-Certified Chemistry and Physics from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY (2020)
Experience: Flavorings Compounder at Flavormatic Industries Inc.
Undergraduate Research in Synthesis of Halogenated Ynamides
Research Interests: Design and synthesis of bio-based polymers and sustainable electroactive polymers for wearable tech.
Awards: Innovation Quest 2024, CCEI Summer Fellowship 2024, Bobbitt-Chou Graduate Summer Research Fellowship 2023, 100Plus Scholarship Award 2021.
Amy Pollock
Contact info: amy.pollock@uconn.edu
Education: Western Washington University, Chemistry (2021)
Research Interests: Electrochromic Conducting polymers, bio-based polymer synthesis and application.
Awards: Material science Pre Doctoral Graduate Fellowship(2023). Future Climate Venture Fellowship(2023).
Pragati Rout
Contact Info: pragati.rout@uconn.edu
Education: MS from Berhampur University, Odisha.(2018)
Experience: Research Associate in R&D Innovare labs Pvt ltd Pharmaceutical company, India from 2019-2020.
Research interest: Synthesis and characterization of API's, monomers and oligomers and exploring their fluorescence properties, Hydrogels, Optical brighteners.
Awards: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Fellowship for Summer 2024 and SPE Connecticut Section Scholarship (2024)
Pritish Aklujkar
Contact info: pritish.aklujkar@uconn.edu
Education: B.Tech. in Surface Coating Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology (2020), Mumbai, India.
Research Interests: Bio-based polymer synthesis for capacitive energy storage applications.
Education: B.Tech. in Surface Coating Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology (2020), Mumbai, India.
Research Interests: Bio-based polymer synthesis for capacitive energy storage applications.
Awards: SPE Connecticut Section Scholarship (2022), Polymer science Pre Doctoral Graduate Fellowship(2023), SPE Connecticut Section Scholarship (2024)
Ashish R Khomane
Contact info: ashish.khomane@uconn.edu
Education: B.Tech - Dyestuff Technology (2013), M.Tech - Surface Coating & Technology (2017), Institute of Chemical Technology (2013), Mumbai, India.
Experience: Techno-commercial Manager, Kupsa Coatings Pvt. Ltd. (2016-2018)
Research Interests: Liquid crystalline polymers, polymeric optical brighteners, high-temperature and high density dielectrics, polynorbornene, phase transfer catalysed polymers.
Mohak Desai
Contact info: mohak.desai@uconn.edu
Education: M.S. - Polymers and Coatings Technology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan,Integrated Master's - Applied Chemistry, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, India
Experience: R&D Chemist, Sherwin Williams Paints, Cleveland, OH Co-op Chemist, Chemical Dynamics, Plymouth, MI
Education: M.S. - Polymers and Coatings Technology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan,Integrated Master's - Applied Chemistry, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, India
Experience: R&D Chemist, Sherwin Williams Paints, Cleveland, OH Co-op Chemist, Chemical Dynamics, Plymouth, MI
Research Interests: R&D Chemist, Sherwin Williams Paints, Cleveland, OH Co-op Chemist, Chemical Dynamics, PM, MI
Awards: SPE Connecticut Section Scholarship (2024), Polymer science Pre Doctoral Graduate Fellowship(2024)
Vice-President of SPE UCONN Chapter
Florence Wambugu
Contact info: florence.wambugu@uconn.edu
Education: BSc. Industrial Chemistry from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Experience: Research and Development Scientist - Weetabix East Africa, Partnerships Manager - Baobab Consulting
Research Interests: Design and Synthesis of Sustainable water-soluble Cannabinoid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery.
Swapnali Sonowal
Contact Info: swapnali.sonowal@uconn.edu
Research Interests: Design and Synthesis of Sustainable water-soluble Cannabinoid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery.
Education: BS in Chemistry from Jorhat Institute of Science & Technology, Assam (2012-2015), MS in Chemistry from University of Delhi (2015-2017), Delhi, India.
Experience: Undergraduate research in Synthesis of Benzothiazole derivatives, Electrochemical Sensors, Silica-based Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer
Research Interest: Polymer Drug Delivery, Drug aspects of Cannabinoids.
Vishwa Suthar
Contact info: vishwa.suthar@uconn.edu
Education: MS from Pittsburg State University, (Kansas 2023)
Experience: MS from Pittsburg State University (Kansas 2023). Worked on different vegetable oils to form polyurethane composite film and prepared non-isocyanate polyurethane composite adhesive.
Research Interests: Bio-derived polymer synthesis
Education: MS from Pittsburg State University, (Kansas 2023)
Experience: MS from Pittsburg State University (Kansas 2023). Worked on different vegetable oils to form polyurethane composite film and prepared non-isocyanate polyurethane composite adhesive.
Research Interests: Bio-derived polymer synthesis
Social chair of SPE Uconn Chapter
Paria Shirzad
Contact info: paria.shirzad@uconn.edu
Education: BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch(2016-2020), Tehran, Iran.
Experience: Worked as a Quality Control and R&D assistant in Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals(Fall 2020).
Research Interest: Synthesis of sustainable biopolymers for therapeutic, drug delivery, biobased coating, rust protection and food preservation applications.
Joshua Hartley
Contact info: joshua.hartley@uconn.edu
Education: BSc in ACS-Certified Biochemistry from Framingham State University, Framingham, MA (2024)
Experience: R&D Laboratory Technician for Parker Hannifin - Filtration Division
Education: BSc in ACS-Certified Biochemistry from Framingham State University, Framingham, MA (2024)
Experience: R&D Laboratory Technician for Parker Hannifin - Filtration Division
Mortar Section Leader (SSG) for Army National Guard
Undergraduate research in the Bargellini reaction optimization and isomeric selectivity.
Research Interests: Developing novel materials for capacitive energy storage applications.
Undergraduate research in the Bargellini reaction optimization and isomeric selectivity.
Research Interests: Developing novel materials for capacitive energy storage applications.
Vinh Le
Contact info: vinh.le@uconn.edu
Education: B.S. in ACS-certified Chemistry, Central Connecticut State University (2021).
Experience: Scientist I at Pine Lake Laboratories, Bristol CT (2022-2024).
Research Interest: Polymer synthesis, florescent cannabinoid polymer, optical brightener, dielectric material.