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
Congrats to Sarah for passing her RP!
Congrats to Sarah for passing her RP! She is now a PhD candidate. We are very excited to see what she will do next!
December 6, 20243 Postdoctoral Research Positions Open in the Boydston Group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Our research team has 3 postdoctoral research positions open. One is in the area of photoredox-mediated metal-free ring-opening metathesis polymerization (MF-ROMP), and two are in the area of vat-based multimaterial actinic spatial control (MASC) additive …
October 29, 2024Congrats to Brittany for winning an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for Undergraduate Research!
Congrats to Brittany for winning an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for Undergraduate Research. She supported the department’s undergraduate research program while the director position was vacant, including organizing the departmental poster session at the end …
October 15, 2024Congrats to Brittany for winning a PPG Travel Grant Award!
Congrats to Brittany for being one of the winners of the PPG travel grant to attend and present at an upcoming scientific conference. She secured $2500 in sponsored travel awards by submitting a “elevator pitch” …
August 10, 2024Congrats to Harshal on winning first place for the TA Ragatz Awards!
Congrats to Harshal on being awarded first place for the TA Ragatz award. Awardees were selected by undergraduate students who received mentorship and teaching from these graduate students.
May 8, 2024- Read More News
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