Caroline Szczepanski

Contact Information

Address: Engineering Bldg.
428 S Shaw Ln
Room: 1257
East Lansing , MI 48824

Phone:

(517) 353-2452

Email:

szcz@msu.edu

Website:

Associate Professor

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Biography

The research in my group falls at the interface of polymer engineering, materials science, and biomimicry. We develop techniques using polymers and polymer networks to produce materials with the order, functionality, and performance of examples surrounding us in nature. Beyond identifying materials that mimic natural functionalities, our research addresses the need for efficient and versatile methods that make this class of mimicry feasible for broad-reaching materials needs. The materials developed in my group are explored for a variety of applications including: biomaterials, coatings, plastics, membranes, and adhesives.

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2014
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Lafayette College, 2009

Selected Publications

  1. Alyssa VanZanten, Shih-Yuan Chen, Michelle M. Driscoll, & *Caroline R. Szczepanski. "Unconstrained dynamic gel swelling generates transient surface deformations” Soft Matter, 20, 6742–6753, 2024
  2. Sabrina J. Curley & Caroline R. Szczepanski. (2024) “Interfacial energy as an approach to designing amphipathic surfaces during photopolymerization curing” Soft Matter, 20, 3854–3867.
  3. Denghao Fu, Sarah Beth Holles, Emily England, Yunlu Zhang, Shiwang Cheng, & CarolineR. Szczepanski. “Compatibility versus reaction diffusion: Factors that determine the heterogeneity of polymerized adhesive networks” Dental Materials, 40(5), 800–810.
  4. Justin Hamlin, Md Nuruddin, Volodymyr Tarabara, & Caroline R. Szczepanski. (2022) “Incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals and reactive surfactants for improved pressure-sensitive adhesive performance” AIChE Journal, 68(12), e17910, 2022.
  5. Denghao Fu, Jonathan Hardy, & *Caroline R. Szczepanski. “Improvement of dentin bonding via adhesive monomers with multiple hydrogen bonding moieties” Acta Biomaterialia, 205, 705–722, 2025.

MSU Scholar

Google Scholar

Awards

  • American Chemical Society (ACS) - Polymer Materials: Science & Engineering Division (PMSE) Early Investigator Awardee - 2025
  • Michigan State University Graduate School, Outstanding Early Career Faculty Mentor Award - 2025
  • Michigan State University College of Engineering, Excellence in Diversity Award- Emerging Accomplishments Award - 2024
  • American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), Selection to the MIND The Future Cohort, for emerging leaders in dental research - 2023-2024

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