• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanoscience & Materials Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Environmental & Green Chemistry
• Energy & Catalysis

Research Summary

The Hillmyer research group focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and applications of advanced macromolecular materials. We strive to establish structure-property relationships and to discover and develop technologically important applications of polymers. We use modern polymer synthesis techniques that include various controlled polymerizations and selective polymer modifications, and these synthetic efforts provide the foundation for most projects. Ultimately, we aim to combine contemporary polymer synthesis with detailed molecular, morphological and property characterization to expand our knowledge of fundamental polymer science and advance new technologies. 

Our spotlight areas of research include the development of sustainable polymers from renewable resources and hybrid macromolecular structures that combine disparate polymeric elements into a single compound. As project areas are often interrelated, our group encourages and embraces collaboration. In addition to collaborations between members of the Hillmyer group, several formal cooperative relationships have been established with several other research groups at the University of Minnesota. The overall polymer science effort at the University of Minnesota is wide-ranging, and the extensive infrastructure and collaborative nature of the faculty truly fosters a unique research environment.

Research Page

Marc Hillmyer received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Florida in 1989 and his doctorate in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1994. After completing a postdoctoral research position in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, he joined the Chemistry faculty at Minnesota in 1997. He is currently the McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Chemistry and leads a research group focused on the synthesis and self-assembly of multifunctional polymers. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Marc served as an associate editor for the ACS journal Macromolecules from 2008-2017, and is currently the editor-in-chief of Macromolecules. He is also the director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers headquartered at the University of Minnesota, a National Science Foundation Center for Chemical Innovation.

Education

• B.S. University of Florida, 1989
• Ph.D. California Institute of Technology, 1994
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Minnesota, 1994-1997

Recent News

• M-SPIRE: one of two UMN-affiliated projects named as finalists in NSF Regional Innovation Engine Competition
• Four UMN faculty members receive Emmy awards for production role in University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley’s ‘Energía Y TÚ’

Honors and Awards

• Mark Senior Scholar Award ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry 2022 
• Distinguished Service Award ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry 2020 
• DSM Bright Science Award in Materials Sciences 2020 
• Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS) 2019 
• Entrepreneurial Researcher Award (UMN) 2017

Selected Publications

Publications