To be eligible, students must register for the appropriate symposium (see below)
You can view the 2026 Spring Undergraduate Symposium report here.
The Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science Symposium and Award was established to recognize outstanding undergraduate students in polymer science and engineering, foster networking and exposure, introduce opportunities in graduate research, and help develop future leaders in academia and in industry. A one day symposium at spring national meetings of the American Chemical Society is held. This symposium consists of presentations from undergraduates from across universities in the US (15 – 20 oral presentations and 40 – 50 poster presentations), as well as a career panel, discussion of graduate school opportunities, and networking during breaks.
Awards: MACRO and the IAB sponsor awards for the top 3 oral and poster presentations.
Eligibility: A nominee must be an undergraduate performing research in polymer science or engineering at a US institution. The student must submit an abstract through MAPS to the POLY division under the symposium “Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science.” Approval must be obtained from the faculty advisor, and the faculty advisor must be listed as a co-author.
Previous Symposium and Awardee Information:
2025 Winners
Oral
1st place: Maxine van der Donk (Northwestern University)
2nd place: John Searles (University of Southern Mississippi)
3rd place: Nathan Hajek (Lewis University)
Poster
1st place: Isabela Castillo (Trinity University)
2nd place: Jacob Bryant (San Jose State University)
3rd place: Dana Aramouni (Clevelans State University)
2024 Winners
Oral
1st place: Jojo Holm (Northwestern University)
2nd place: Kari Chamberlain (Mississippi State University)
3rd place: Charles McClain (Ouachita Baptist University)
Poster
1st place: Nicholas Cipolla (Trinity University)
2nd place: Christopher Faulkner (University of Southern Mississippi)
3rd place: Rhonwyn Fleming (Pacific Lutheran University)
2023 Winners
Oral
1st place: Justin Edaugal (University of Tennessee Knoxville)
2nd place: Jolly Patro (California Institute of Technology)
3rd place: Jaqueline Lindstrom (Pacific Lutheran University)
Poster
1st place: Nadia Crawford (Trinity University)
2nd place: Luis Tsatsos Montoliu (Brown University)
3rd place: Rachel Worden (Georgia Tech)
2021 Winners
Oral
1st place: Alexander Thome (Murray State University)
2nd place: Deniz Tekant (Cornell University)
3rd place: Clayton Keene (University of Florida & University of Southern Mississippi REU)
Poster
1st place: Greg Bisbjerg (California Institute of Technology & niversity of Southern Mississippi REU)
2nd place: Anna Zeleney (College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University)
3rd place: Eric Miller (Clemson University)
2019 Winners
Oral
1st place: Katrina Konopka (University of Arizona)
2nd place: Joseph Mitchell (University of Chicago)
3rd place: Brittany Thompson (University of Southern Mississippi)
Poster
1st place: Kaleigh Ryan (Pace Univerisity)
2nd place: Claire Gething (Waynesburg University)
3rd place: Ernie Alvino (US Air Force Academy)
Previous Undergraduate Research in Polym Sci Symposium and Award Winners 2010-2018
