The Boydston Research Group is a diverse and highly collaborative team that engages in interdisciplinary research to develop functional materials at multiple length scales. We specialize in synthetic polymer chemistry, photoredox catalysis, polymer mechanochemistry, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Some of our main goals include discovery and development of new polymerization methods, design and evaluation of mechanophores that can trigger the release of small molecules, and establishing complete chemical control over every voxel within 3D printed multimaterial systems. Collectively, we think about chemical processes and structure-function relationships from molecular-scale up through systems integration.
Research Overview
Metal Free Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (MF-ROMP)
Photoredox ROMP provides one of the few metal-free routes to access the high-value polymers synthesized via metathesis polymerizations. We use physical-organic principles to understand, optimize, and expand the functionality of photoredox ROMP.
Additive Manufacturing (AM)
The additive manufacturing subgroup leverages chemical synthesis, engineering, modeling, and materials design to create new capabilities in 3D printing.
Functional and Responsive Materials (FARM)
Functional and responsive materials are polymer systems that produce desirable chemical outcomes in response to compatible stimuli. We design polymers targeting practical applications such as catalysis, force-sensing, and reprocessable materials.
Recent News
Welcome to the Boydston group, Dr. Yoon Jung Jang and Wei-Xuan Kang!
We welcomed our new postdoc, Dr. Yoon Jung Jang, and first-year graduate student, Wei-Xuan Kang, with a lunch at Taste of Sichuan! We are super excited to have you in the group. We look forward …
December 19, 2025Congrats to Sarah on her publication, “Selective infusion of spatially controlled domains via vat photopolymerization 3D-printing for chemically diverse multimaterial parts”!
Congrats to Sarah for publishing her research, “Selective infusion of spatially controlled domains via vat photopolymerization 3D-printing for chemically diverse multimaterial parts” in Nature Communications!
December 12, 2025Join the Boydston Group (Fall 2025 Recruitment Events)
The Boydston Group will have open group meetings for interested first-year students on Thursdays from 5-7pm in 1324, starting 8/28/25. Upcoming Social Events (we will leave together after group meeting or meet us there!) 9/4 at …
August 22, 2025Congrats to Dr. Tetzloff for the publication of her paper, “Combining Metal-Free and Metal-Mediated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization for Efficient Synthesis of Bottlebrush Polymers”
Congrats to Dr. Tetzloff on her publication, “Combining Metal-Free and Metal-Mediated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization for Efficient Synthesis of Bottlebrush Polymers,” which has been accepted to ACS Macro Letters!
June 30, 2025Congrats to Dr. Olivia Bae on earning her PhD!
Congrats to Dr. Olivia Bae on defending her dissertation, “Functional Polymers Across the Lifecycle: Mechanophore Reactivity, Additive-Based 3D Printing, and Enzymatic Degradation!” We will miss you in the lab and wish you best of luck …
June 25, 2025- Read More News
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