Top Chapters for the 2025-26 academic year will be recognized at the upcoming Chicago ACS PMSE/POLY Awards Reception. Thanks to all of our dedicated student chapter officers, members, and advisors for your important work building the future of polymer science and engineering!
FIRST PLACE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
SECOND PLACE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
During the 2025-2026 year, the University of Minnesota’s POLY/PMSE student chapter used their seminar series to highlight voices of speakers developing the next generation of functional and sustainable materials in industrial and academic environments. They provided professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdocs through meetings with invited speakers, an industry tour, and networking events with fellow polymer science researchers. They also hosted workshops and panels geared towards preparing younger graduate students for choosing an advisor, taking preliminary exams, and introducing analytical polymer chemistry/engineering techniques.
polypmse.umn.edu
During the 2025–2026 academic year, the University of Florida POLY/PMSE Student Chapter organized a diverse range of professional, scientific, outreach, and social events to foster engagement within their polymer science and engineering community. Highlights included career spotlights featuring speakers from academia and industry, workshops on polymer characterization techniques such as MALDI and electron microscopy, and a biweekly journal club. They also promoted polymer science through community outreach events, supported member well-being with activities like nature walks and painting sessions, and concluded the year by hosting the annual Soft Matter Applied Research and Technology Symposium (SMARTS).
https://www.butlerpolymerlab.com/poly-pmse
THIRD PLACE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
During the 2025-26 academic year, the ACS POLY/PMSE Student Chapter at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign hosted their first annual symposium, connecting researchers and showcasing polymer research across seven different departments at the University. They also organized Coffee Talks, where students could discuss current research from the University’s faculty with snacks in hand. In collaboration with another student organization on campus, the Student Chapter also brought a hands-on demonstration of polymer networks and hydrogels to a local high school. For 2026-27, they are looking forward to expanding their symposium to include other research institutions, connecting with industries, and continuing to engage local grade school students with science and polymers.
https://acspolymer.web.illinois.edu/