Amelia "Millie" Heiner
Master's Student
Email: amelia.heiner@utah.edu
Millie is a Master's student (co-advised by Dr. Jeff Bates) studying thiol-ene films and coatings and their biodegradability. She is in a combined B.S./M.S program in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, and has worked on developing biodegradable menstrual pads and hot-melt adhesives with the company SHERO, LLC. She has interned at 3form product development, DAAD Rise Germany in a biopolymers lab, U of U Materials Characterization Lab, and U of U Sustainability Office. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing, breweries, yoga, and guitar.

 

Anna Huber
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: u1353704@utah.edu
Anna is a second-year undergraduate student expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering in 2025. Her research interest lies in sustainability and polymer biodegradation. In addition to helping Millie work with biodegradable thiol-ene polymers, Anna is studying depolymerization kinetics and crosslinking polymer density. Her hobbies include traveling, painting, and skiing.

 

Grant Musgrave
PhD Student
Email: grant.musgrave@utah.edu
Grant is a second year PhD student working on sustainable polymers and composites. He graduated in May 2020 from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining the U, Grant worked at Colorado Photopolymer Solutions, now Arkema, working with 3D printing and photopolymer. Grant also worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, focusing on bio-based, recyclable-by-design wind turbine blades. Some of his hobbies include skiing, hockey, basketball, football, backpacking, and hiking.

 

Caleb Reese
Post Doctoral Researcher
Email: calebreese@gwmail.gwu.edu
Caleb obtained his PhD in Chemistry at George Washington University developing aromatic chain growth polymer brushes used for high strength surface coatings and reverse osmosis desalination membranes. Caleb is now a post doc working on polymers for applications including substrate materials for electronics and plastics upcycling for sports equipment. Outside of the lab, Caleb can be found on his mountain bike high in the mountains or in the winter months, skiing through aspen groves.

 

Barnali Sutradhar
PhD Student
Email: barnali.sutradhar@utah.edu
Barnali is a first year PhD student at the U, working on selective chemical depolymerization of plastics waste. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2017. In her undergrad she worked on fiber reinforced polymer composites, and she proceeded to obtain her Master’s degree from University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 2022 where she worked with atomic layer deposition of zirconia over SBA-15 and synthesizing dual functional materials by sol-gel process. Her hobbies are traveling, photography, dancing, playing badminton and watching movies.

 

Chen Wang
Principal Investigator
Email: chen.wang@utah.edu

Chen obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. He used "click" reactions in heterogeneous polymerization and in some covalent dynamic polymers. After residences in the 3D printing industry and at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Chen now joins the "U" to explore meaningful questions, and hopefully, answers.
Outside of work, Chen tends to stay outside — snowboarding, leisurely biking, backpacking. He also likes cooking, sipping good beer, and as always, great conversations.

 

Eden Yau
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: eden.yau@utah.edu

Eden is a freshman undergraduate student expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2026. His research interests lie in methods of recycling polypropylene and LDPE (low density polyethylene) waste into 3D printing filament. His hobbies include rock climbing, photography, and researching/building prosthetic hands.