EPI cites graduate students for excellence in polymer colloid research

	Li Zhang

Li Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate in polymer science and engineering, recently received the 2007 Kenneth A. Earhart Award for excellence in research from the Emulsion Polymers Institute at EPI’s annual review meeting.

Zhang won first place in EPI’s poster-presentation contest and received a $1,000 cash prize to use for travel to conferences to present her research. Two other graduate students received poster-presentation awards and cash prizes. The posters were evaluated by EPI’s industrial partners.

The Earhart Award was established by Neal J. Earhart ’89 Ph.D. in memory of his father, Kenneth A. Earhart ’30, who worked for EPI from 1975 to 1987 following his retirement from the chemical industry.

Zhang’s poster was titled “Thermally-Responsive Core-Shell Particles.” Her advisers are Andrew Klein, professor of chemical engineering, and EPI principal research scientists Eric S. Daniels and Victoria L. Dimonie.

	Lisa M. Spagnola

Lisa M. Spagnola, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering, won second prize for her poster, “Miniemulsion Copolymerization of Fatty Acid-Derived Monomers.” Her advisers are Klein, Daniels, Dimonie and Mohamed S. El-Aasser, university provost and professor of chemical engineering.

	Megan B. Casey

Megan B. Casey, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering, took third prize for a poster titled “Study of Monomer Droplets in Miniemulsions.” She is advised by El-Aasser and EPI principal research scientist E. David Sudol.