BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ZContent.net//ZapCalLib 1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Molecular Design Strategies for Mechanochemically Active Polymers LOCATION:Chemistry A101 TZID:America/Denver DTSTART:20240226T160000 UID:2026-04-27-02-33-02@natsci.colostate.edu DTSTAMP:20260427T023302 Description:About the Seminar:\n\nThe use of mechanical force to selectivel y activate covalent bond transformations presents unique opportunities for the design of stimuli-responsive polymers for applications ranging from s ensing to drug delivery. By incorporating stress-sensitive molecules calle d mechanophores into polymer chains\, force is transduced selectively to w eak bonds in the mechanophore to elicit a productive chemical reaction. Me chanochromic mechanophores that produce a change in color are particularly useful and have been widely developed as molecular force probes\, empower ing the visualization of critical stress and/or strain in materials. These same attributes also make force-induced color changes in polymeric materi als appealing for patterning and encryption. In addition\, the mechanicall y triggered release of small molecules offers another powerful approach fo r sensing and delivery. This presentation will highlight some of our recen t research on the development of molecular design strategies and structure –activity relationships for several different mechanophore platforms ena bling visual stress reporting and mechanically triggered molecular release as well as some unusual reactivity.\n\n \;\n\nAbout the Speaker:\n\nM ax was born and raised in Colorado and obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines where he began research in synthetic polymer chemistry under the guidance of Prof. Daniel M. Knauss. After graduating in 2009\, Max carried out his Ph.D. studies in the laboratories of Prof. C raig J. Hawker at the University of California\, Santa Barbara.  His doc toral research focused broadly on the synthesis of functional organic mate rials and was recognized by the American Chemical Society with the 2016 He nkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Chemistry. Max con ducted postdoctoral work with Prof. Jeffrey S. Moore at the University of Illinois\, Urbana-Champaign as a Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellow pri or to joining the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltec h as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in September 2017. Research in the Robb group seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of mechanoch emical reactivity by developing novel molecular design principles\, ultima tely providing a foundation for creating innovative materials. The group†™s research has been recognized by a number of awards including the Beckma n Young Investigator award\, Sloan Research Fellowship\, Camille Dreyfus T eacher-Scholar award\, NSF CAREER award\, the National Fresenius Award\, R ose Hills Foundation Innovator award\, and the PMSE Young Investigator awa rd.\n\n \;\n\n \; 4:00 pm END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR