Shu Wang
Advised by: Prof. Stephen L. Craig and Prof. Michael Rubinstein, Duke University
The Henkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science and Engineering is given to recognize a graduate student or recent graduate who has completed an outstanding Ph.D. thesis in polymeric research. PMSE is proud to introduce the 2024 winner, Dr. Shu Wang, who obtained his doctoral degree from Duke University.
Shu received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Duke University in 2022, under the direction of Prof. Stephen L. Craig and Prof. Michael Rubinstein. During his graduate studies, Shu developed a keen interest in rupturing large molecules. He didn’t pursue this just for fun —though he found it immensely satisfying. Instead, he aims to understand how the scission of chemical bonds impacts the tear resistance of the polymeric materials they compose. His research effectively merged polymer theories with experimental practices, bridging the chemistry of polymer chains and junctions with the fracture mechanics of polymer networks. With his growing expertise in polymer chemistry and physics, Shu is currently exploring polymer mechanics as a postdoctoral associate working with Prof. Xuanhe Zhao at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Shu’s research accomplishments have been recognized with awards, including the Shaffer Hunnicutt Fellowship and the Charles Bradsher Fellowship from Duke University.The 2024 Henkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science & Engineering will be presented during the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Denver, Colorado, August 21, 2024 in the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering. Over the last 30 years, this award has been jointly administered through the ACS Divisions of Polymer Chemistry (POLY) and Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering (PMSE), with generous financial support from the Henkel Corporation.