Michigan State University researcher Caroline Szczepanski was named an honoree for the 2025 Early Investigators Symposium of the Polymer Science, Materials, and Engineering (PMSE) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Szczepanski is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (ChEMS) in the College of Engineering.
“This award means a lot for my team, as it demonstrates the impact of our research during these early years of establishing the lab and our reputation,” said Szczepanski. “I’m excited that our work was recognized by the community.”
PMSE Early Investigator Symposium honorees are chosen from early-career emerging leaders who have made significant contributions in their respective fields within polymer materials science and engineering. Szczepanski received the award for her lab’s record of publication and funding, as well as her service to the division.
According to Christina Chan, chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, “We are excited to see Caroline, a rising star in ChEMS, be recognized for the excellent achievements of her research group. The award highlights her scholarship in advancing the department’s internationally recognized strength in polymer science and engineering.”
Szczepanski’s research falls at the interface of polymer engineering, materials science, and biomimicry. She develops techniques using polymers and polymer networks to produce materials with the order, functionality, and performance of examples from nature.
Beyond identifying materials that mimic natural functionalities, Szczepanski’s 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 her lab are explored for a variety of applications including biomaterials, coatings, plastics, membranes, and adhesives.
Szczepanski earned her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Lafayette College in 2009. She earned her master’s degree in 2011 and doctoral degree in 2014, both in chemical engineering, from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, France, in 2015 and moved to Northwestern University as a research assistant professor in 2017. She joined MSU in 2019.
Szczepanski lectured at the PMSE Early Investigator Symposium, held during the 2025 fall national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Aug. 17-21, in Washington, D.C.
Written by Judi Melena Smelser
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page