Dr. Marc Hillmyer stands as a preeminent leader in polymer chemistry and sustainable materials science, holding the prestigious McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair and Distinguished University Teaching Professor position in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. With a distinguished academic journey beginning with his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Florida in 1989 and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 1994, he established himself as a rising star in polymer science following postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota. Since joining the Chemistry faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1997, he has cultivated a world-class research program that bridges fundamental polymer science with practical sustainability applications. His leadership extends to directing the NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers, a National Science Foundation Center for Chemical Innovation headquartered at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Hillmyer's groundbreaking research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and applications of advanced macromolecular materials, particularly emphasizing the development of sustainable polymers from renewable resources. His group has pioneered innovative approaches to establish critical structure-property relationships while developing technologically important applications of polymers through modern synthesis techniques including various controlled polymerizations and selective polymer modifications. The Hillmyer research group's spotlight areas include creating hybrid macromolecular structures that combine disparate polymeric elements into single compounds, with significant contributions to nanoporous materials using block polymer precursors and renewable resource polymers. His leadership of the Center for Sustainable Polymers has established foundational chemical principles enabling the efficient and economical conversion of natural and abundant molecules into tomorrow's advanced polymers, addressing critical environmental challenges through molecular design.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Hillmyer has significantly shaped the polymer science community through his editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious ACS journal Macromolecules, following nine years as an associate editor from 2008-2017. His commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration is evident through his membership in the Institute for Engineering in Medicine and numerous cooperative relationships with research groups across the University of Minnesota campus. Dr. Hillmyer's work directly contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating his dedication to using chemical science for global benefit. His current research initiatives, including projects on telechelic polyolefins for recyclable crosslinked thermosets and tough nanoporous membranes, continue to push the boundaries of sustainable polymer science while training the next generation of polymer chemists.
