RESEARCH INTERESTS
Carolyn is excited to design polymer hydrogel systems for biomedical applications such as drug delivery. She is particularly interested in tuning polymer hydrogels to allow for sustained delivery of diverse cargo.
EDUCATION
PhD, Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University - Expected 2025
BS, Materials Science & Engineering, MIT - May 2020
HONORS, AWARDS, and SCHOLARSHIPS
Honorable Mention Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2020
Tau Beta Pi, MIT, 2019
MISTI Fung Scholarship for Research and Language Study Abroad, 2017
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, MIT, Sept 2018 - May 2020
Research Advisor: Prof. A. John Hart
Carolyn worked to create ultrastrong carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials by synthesizing polymers in the pores of CNT networks using interfacial polymerization (IP). She additionally helped to develop a low temperature 3D printing technique utilizing microfluidics and IP.
3M, Jun 2019 - Aug 2019
Research Advisor: Dr. Chris Haak
Carolyn worked to develop novel acrylate interlayer materials with promising solar and acoustic properties for use in windshield and sunroof glass laminates.
Donaldson Company, Jun 2018 - Aug 2018
Research Advisor: Dr. Andrew Dallas
Carolyn developed and tested a new hydrophobic slippery surface media coating that outperformed the industry standard for its application. She also helped to scale up the company’s microfluidics lab.
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, MIT, Dec 2016 - May 2018
Research Advisor: Prof. Antione Allanore
Carolyn examined a more environmentally favorable method of recovering valuable metals by decomposing sulfide ores using electrolysis.
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, MIT, Jun 2017 - Aug 2017
Research Advisor: Prof. Di Zhang
Carolyn collaborated in Chinese with a team of scientists to examine methods to improve the efficiency of lithium ion battery supercapacitors through nitrogen doping.
ABOUT
Carolyn grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, surrounded by beautiful lakes and lots of snow. She moved to Boston to get her BS in Materials Science & Engineering and to finally learn how to correctly say the words roof, bag, and pillow. Carolyn is super excited to be at Stanford for her PhD and is looking forward to pursuing exciting research in a much warmer climate. When she’s not in lab, Carolyn loves to bake, paint, and explore the outdoors via camping and hiking.