At the conclusion of her third year, Ph.D. candidate Sydni Wilson reached an exciting professional milestone by presenting at her first scientific conference, the 100th ACS Colloid and Surface Science Symposium. Held at the University of Delaware in Newark from June 21–24, 2026, the centennial symposium brought together researchers from academia, industry, and national laboratories […]
The Composto Group is proud to celebrate Dr. Katie Sun on the successful defense of her dissertation, “Effects of Polymer Brush, Nanoparticle, and Solvent Characteristics on Nanoparticle Adsorption.” Her research examined how polymer-brush structure, solution pH, grafting density, molecular weight, and nanoparticle geometry influence nanoparticle adsorption and separation. Using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring […]
David visited the UPR-PENN PREM program to teach and connect with students through hands-on materials science education. His visit highlighted PREM’s mission of expanding access to research experiences and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Through mentorship, teaching, and outreach, moments like this help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world scientific […]
We are so proud of our graduates! 🎓 Colby Snyder Tackling one rigorous STEM major is a feat; conquering a dual-degree in Chemical Engineering and Physics through Penn’s prestigious VIPER program is next-level. Colby has spent his undergraduate career at the intersection of energy technology and foundational science, spending 3 years researching in the Composto […]
Senior member Katie Sun participated in the University of Pennsylvania’s 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and won 2nd place! Penn 3MT is a university-wide competition designed to showcase graduate students’ research and communications skills in a three-minute talk to a general audience. Katie’s thesis centers around the adsorption of nanoparticles to polymer brushes, which she tied […]
5th-year PhD Student, Katie Sun, presented her research on “Selectivity of Gold Nanoparticle Adsorption in a Weak Polyelectrolyte Brush Controlled Through Grafting Density Changes” at the APS Division of Polymer Physics (DPLOY) conference in Denver, Colorado. The technical session was focused on experts in block copolymers, polymers, and biomacromolecules at interfaces. This marks her third […]
David Bujdos, a second-year PhD student, presented his poster on the “Slow Kinetics of Confined Diblock Copolymer upon Infiltration into a Bicontinuous, Nanoporous Gold Scaffold” at the APS Division of Polymer Physics (DPLOY) conference in Denver, Colorado. This year there were 85 DPLOY posters presented, and David had the honor of being selected for the […]
Colby Snyder, a third-year undergraduate in the Composto Lab, has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar—one of just 441 students selected nationally from over 1,300 nominees across 445 institutions. The prestigious award recognizes exceptional students pursuing research careers in science, engineering, and math. Colby’s achievement was supported by Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. […]
Sydni Wilson, the second year Ph.D student, presented her research work at the Ivy Collective for Inclusion in Engineering Doctorial Symposium. Congratulations Sydni!
The Composto Lab was represented with enthusiasm and innovation at the 4th Annual Frontiers of Energy Research Poster Session, where three standout undergraduates, Isa Pan, Colby Snyder, and Julia Chiang, showcased their forward-thinking research projects. This poster session was co-hosted by the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology and the Vagelos Integrated Program in […]
