Team

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow Caltech (2008-2010)
Advisor: Robert H. Grubbs

Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin (2007)
Advisors: Christopher W. Bielawski and C. Grant Willson

B.S. and M.S. University of Oregon (2001, 2002)
Advisor: Michael M. Haley

Dr. Boydston began studying chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon under the guidance of Professor Michael M. Haley. His research focused on the synthesis and study of dehydrobenzoannulenes. After completing BS and MS degrees, he began doctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2005, Dr. Boydston joined the group of Professor Christopher W. Bielawski and was co-advised by Professor C. Grant Willson. Dr. Boydston completed his thesis research focused on the synthesis and applications of annulated bis(imidazolium) chromophores in 2007. After graduating, he moved to Pasadena, California to take an NIH postdoctoral position at the California Institute of Technology. There, he worked under the mentorship of Professor Robert H. Grubbs to develop new catalysts and methods for the synthesis and characterization of functionalized cyclic polymers. He returned to the Pacific Northwest as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Washington in the summer of 2010. In summer 2018, he moved to the University of Wisconsin as the Yamamoto Family Professor of Chemistry. His research group currently focuses on developments in the areas of electro-organic synthesis, polymer synthesis, mechanochemical transduction, triggered depolymerization, polymers for therapeutic applications, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). His research and teaching efforts have been recognized through the NSF CAREER Award, Army Research Office Young Investigator Award, Cottrell Scholar Award, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, and University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award.

• Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 2013
• M.S., University of Tennessee, 2006
• B.S., Pusan National University, 2004

Chang-Uk is originally from Pusan, South Korea where he graduated with honors with a B.S. degree in Polymer Science and Engineering. He then completed M.S. and Ph.D. degrees focusing on a combination of materials science and synthesis of advanced polymer structures. During his doctoral studies under the guidance of Prof. Donghui Zhang, he worked on synthesizing a new class of peptidomimetic materials (polypeptoids, structural mimics of polypeptides), cyclic block copolypeptoids, and studying their self-assembly in solution and macroscopic properties. He then took an appointment as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UK CAER). In April of 2014, Chang-Uk made the move to Seattle to join the Boydston group as a postdoctoral fellow and begin studying polymer mechanochemistry.

• B.S., Sogang University
• M.S., Sogang University

Olivia received her B.S. in chemistry and M.S. in physical chemistry from Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. There, she worked with Prof. Bong June Sung on theoretical modeling of cancer cell cycle and molecular dynamic simulation of ring polymer films. She arrived in Madison this August and is enjoying life here. Outside the lab, she loves to read and write. She wants to be a writer someday.

• B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018

Julia is from Bethesda, MD. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Georgia Tech in 2018, where she collected and characterized Icelandic tephra samples and studied microbes in extreme environments under Prof. Amanda Stockton. She then spent two years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quantifying fatty acids and trans fatty acids in human plasma samples and developing quantification methods for glucose and carbohydrates with Dr. Heather Kuiper. She joined the Boydston group in July 2021. Outside the lab, she plans community building events for the department and plays volleyball.

• B.S., University of Houston, 2018

Brittany is from Houston, TX. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Houston in 2018. Her undergraduate research interests included polymer-based nanomaterials for wastewater treatment in Dr. Debora Rodrigues’s lab and metal ion uptake in the human gut microbiota in Dr. Melissa Zastrow’s lab. After graduating from UH, she worked for two and half years in R&D at Sekisui Specialty Chemicals improving and developing polyvinyl alcohol products. She joined the Boydston group in December 2021. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing violin in the Medical Sciences Orchestra at UW-Madison.

• B.A. Skidmore College, 2022

Sarah is from Boston, MA. She was a Porter-Wachenheim Presidential Scholar at Skidmore College and earned her B.A. in Chemistry in 2022. Her undergraduate research, with Dr. Kimberley A. Frederick, focused on the development of paper-based microfluidic devices for detection of environmental contaminants. She also interned with American Boronite Corporation in Burlington, MA, where she developed purification and characterization methods for carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes. Sarah joined the Boydston lab in December 2022. Outside of the lab, she enjoys arts and crafts, baking, and taking ballet classes.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2020

Chance is from Waunakee, WI. He transferred from Madison College in 2018, then received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2020. He participated in Professor Ying Ge’s lab, assisting in the research of nanoproteomics and top-down mass spectrometry. After graduation, he briefly worked at Coating Place, Inc. in Verona, WI as an analytical development technician. While not doing chemistry, Chance likes to build models, play games of all types, kayak and swing dance.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin Madison, 2022

Jerry is originally from Tianjin, China. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2022. During his time at the university, Jerry worked in the Boydston Group where his research involved designing and building custom 3D printers. After earning his degree, Jerry continued his journey in the Boydston Group, officially joining the lab in 2023. His current research interests lie in exploring novel materials and innovative ways to utilize 3D printing. Outside the lab, Jerry has a keen interest in technology. He enjoys building PCs and entrepreneurial pursuits.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin at Madison, 2024

Hayoung is from Daejeon, South Korea. Hayoung is majoring in Chemistry and will work on the influence of network structure and property on the efficiency of mechanophore activation. Throughout her college career, she has been involved in multiple research and leadership experiences. During her free time, she likes to draw on my iPad and edit videos for her personal YouTube channel.

• B.S. (expected 2025), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Daria is from Madison, WI. She’s currently majoring in chemical engineering and computer science. She joined the Boydston Group in March 2022 on the additive manufacturing team. Some of her many research interests include photochemistry, polymer science, superconductors, and more. Besides science, Daria loves playing the clarinet, cooking, and playing UNO with friends!

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, expected 2026

Carolyn is a Chemistry major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She joined the Boydston Research Group in Summer 2024 developing resin formulations and investigating photoredox catalysis for multiwavelength and multimaterial additive manufacturing. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, dance, and spending time outside.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, expected 2026

Ryan is a Chemical Engineering major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During the summer of 2024, he joined the Boydston Group working on identifying alternative solvents for MF-ROMP. Outside the lab, Ryan also helps maintain other research groups’ chemical operations with the university’s environmental health and safety department. Outside of academia, he enjoys fishing, weightlifting, and ultimate frisbee.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, expected 2026

Amanda is a Global Health major at the University of Wisconsin Madison. She joined the Boydston Research Group in summer 2024 working on utilizing MF-ROMP products in additive manufacturing using light-based thiol-ene and related reactions as the curing mechanism. Outside of research, Amanda is a lab assistant for the general chemistry courses on campus. She also volunteers as a dental assistant at a local nonprofit clinic and is currently on the pre-dental track. In her free time, she enjoys baking, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her dog Cashew.