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 Dr. Tetzloff on earning her PhD!
Congrats to Dr. Meg Tetzloff on defending her PhD dissertation, “Expanding the applications of Metal-Free Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization through Functional Chain-Transfer Agents, Initiators, and Monomers”! We will miss having your puns and whimsy in the …
May 21, 2025Congrats to Alexis, Carolyn, Daria, and Allison for presenting their undergraduate research at UW-Madison poster sessions!
Last week, our undergrads presented at UW-Madison poster symposiums. Alexis, Carolyn, and Daria presented at the Undergraduate Chemistry Research Poster Symposium, and Allison presented at the Chemical and Biological Engineering Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Thanks …
April 28, 2025Congrats to Daria for receiving Honorable Mention on her NSF GRFP!
Congrats to our undergrad researcher, Daria, for receiving an Honorable Mention for her National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) application! The NSF GRFP is a highly competitive fellowship, so kudos to Daria …
April 9, 2025Congrats to Sarah for being recognized in the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium!
Congrats to Sarah for being recognized in the symposium ”Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research” was held at the ACS National Meeting on March 23-27, 2025 in San Diego, CA. This symposium was meant to …
March 24, 2025Congratulations to Brittany for being selected as one of the top 100 of the 2025 CAS Future Leaders Program!
Brittany was selected as one of the top 100 applicants to the 2025 CAS Future Leaders program! She was placed in the top ~10% of an exceptional group of applicants based on her essay, application, …
March 20, 2025- Read More News