Dr. Vlad Klepov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, received an Early Career Researcher Program award from the Department of Energy. DOE ECRP is the agency’s most prestigious award for junior faculty that serves to recognize exceptional early career researchers at U.S. academic institutions, DOE national laboratories, and Office of Science User Facilities.

Aliphatic polyesters such as poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) are attractive materials because their chemical structures provide opportunities to tailor thermal, mechanical, and functional properties. However, their performance is strongly influenced by molecular architecture, crystallization, and interactions between polymer chains, while poor interfacial compatibility can further limit the properties of polyester blends.

Hope Long, a Chemistry PhD Candidate, was selected to receive the UGA Graduate School Dissertation Completion Award. This competitive award is given to only 10 graduate students per year and is used to facilitate writing their dissertation during their final year of study.

All biological surfaces are coated with complex carbohydrates known as glycans. This glycan layer transforms biological surfaces into highly selective interfaces that mediate molecular recognition, cell signaling, adhesion, and host-pathogen interactions. These natural recognition mechanisms can be adapted for both analytical and therapeutic applications, enabled through surface engineering of synthetic materials.