PMSE Distinguished Service Award

2024 Award Winner

Prof. Dan Savin
University of Florida

The PMSE Distinguished Service Award is given to recognize extensive, sustained contributions and service to the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Division. The first awardee was recognized in 1993, and it has continued as a yearly award. This year we are proud to announce the 2025 PMSE Distinguished Service Award Winner, Professor Daniel Savin
Professor Daniel Savin

Dan Savin received his B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in 1995. While there, he worked under Prof. Kerry Karukstis in the area of biophysical chemistry. He then went to Carnegie Mellon University, receiving an M.S. in Polymer Science (1997) and Ph.D. in Chemistry (2002) working under Prof. Gary Patterson studying dynamic heterogeneity in glassy polymers. He continued his work as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the group of Prof. Timothy Lodge at the University of Minnesota studying dynamics in miscible polymer blends. In 2003, he joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Vermont, in 2008 he moved to the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at Southern Miss, and in 2015 he moved to the Chemistry Department at the University of Florida (UF). Research in the Savin group is focused on characterization of self-assembled polymers and block copolymers. Research projects can be divided into three broad categories: (1) self-assembled and responsive shape changing polypeptide and bioconjugate block copolymers, (2) nanoparticle dispersants and organogels as novel remediation and delivery agents, and (3) impact energy-absorbing polymer nanocomposites. Aside from his position at UF, Dan also serves as a rotating Program Director for the Biomaterials Program in the Division of Materials Research at the National Science Foundation.

Dan is a Fellow of the ACS (2018) and has served the PMSE Division in various roles starting with the polymer education (POLYED) and the Intersociety Polymer Education (IPEC) Committees. He was the inaugural chair of the ACS Fellows committee (2009-2016), served as member at large (2013-2015), and served as the Student Chapter coordinator (2017-2023). He has been active in the collaboration between PMSE and the Chinese Chemical Sciences Polymer Division as a member of two different delegations to China (2013, 2019) and hosting the PMSE/CCS-PD symposium at Southern Miss (2013). He has organized or co-organized 12 PMSE symposia at national meetings. More recently, he has rotated through the PMSE leadership, serving as Treasurer (2019-2020), Program Chair (2021), Chair Elect (2022), Chair (2023), and Past Chair (2024). As PMSE Chair, he organized the recent Strategic Planning session and worked with Megan Robertson and Jen Schaefer to plan the PMSE Centennial Celebration in New Orleans (2024). He is grateful for the many colleagues and friends he has had the privilege of working with over the years, and he is humbled to receive this award.

Dan states that, “I am honored to be a part of the PMSE community. PMSE has made such an impact on my growth as a scientist, both technically and personally. I would encourage anyone working in polymers to join and volunteer in PMSE!”