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: Synthesis and applications of bio-based polymers and electrically conductive polymers for wearable tech.
Treasurer of MRS UCONN Chapter
Award: Bobbitt-chou Award Graduate summer research fellowship 2023.
Irene Mutegi
Contact info: irene.mutegi@uconn.edu
Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of Nairobi, Kenya (2019)
Research Interests: Design and Synthesis of high temperature and high energy density polymer dielectrics. (Polycyclic olefins and polyimides).
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).
President of SPE UCONN Chapter
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.
Secretary of SPE UCONN Chapter.
Treasurer of PLU UCONN, Alpha Phi Chapter.
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.
Awards: SPE Connecticut Section Scholarship (2022), Polymer science Pre Doctoral Graduate Fellowship(2023)
Vice President of SPE UCONN Chapter
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.
Experience:Research and Development Scientist - Weetabix East Africa, Partnerships Manager - Baobab Consulting
Swapnali Sonowal