Dr. Michael F. Cunningham, P.Eng.
Professor Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Canada
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo . Industrial experience with the Xerox Corporate Research Group developing new processes for small, composite particles. Research program is in polymer reaction engineering, with an emphasis on emulsion polymerization. Primary focus of current research is living radical polymerization in heterogeneous systems, and the design of functionalized latex particles for applications such as bioseparations.
Dr. Mohamed S. El-Aasser
Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, USA
Served Lehigh over the past 45 years as Vice President for International Affairs, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, Chairman of Chemical Engineering Department, Director of Emulsion Polymers Institute, Director of Center of Polymer Science and Engineering, and Director of the NSF Polymer Interfaces Center.
Areas of research interest include polymer colloids, emulsion polymerization, latex particle morphology, film formation, surfactants and colloidal stability. Pioneered the field of miniemulsions and related polymer latex systems. Authored more than 400 articles, edited 5 books and holds 9 U.S patents. Advised 65 & co-advised 32 PhD students, 53 Masters and 31 postdocs. Delivered numerous invited lectures at national and international conferences.
Degrees include BS & MS from Alexandria University, Egypt; Ph.D. from McGill University, Canada. Awards include 1984 NASA Inventor of the Year Award , 2002 Tess Award in Coatings ACS - Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE), the 2007 Fellow of the ACS – PMSE, the 1988 Eleanor and Joseph Libsch Research Award, in recognition of outstanding research at Lehigh University, and Lehigh University’s 1999 Hillman Extraordinary Service Award.
Dr. Peter A. Lovell
Professor of Polymer Science, Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
PhD from The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Founding Chairman of the UK Polymer Colloids Forum, which was established in 1993, and was Chairman of Macro Group UK from 2004-2007. His research focuses mainly around aspects of emulsion polymerization and related processes. Prominent in this research has been synthesis of core-shell and multi-layer particles (for applications in toughening plastics and as soft adhesives) and studies of the chemistry (and extent) of branching and grafting, including grafting to water-soluble polymeric colloid stabilizers. Recent research includes a novel chemistry for room-temperature crosslinking during latex film formation, synthesis of new nitroxides for use in controlled miniemulsion polymerization, development of click chemistry for latex particle functionalization and the lead role in a European collaborative research programme for development of high-performance water-borne pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Dr. Bernd Reck
Vice President Polymer Colloid Technology BASF (retired)
After more than 35 years in different positions in research, product development and marketing in BASF’s Dispersions and Resins Division, Bernd Reck recently retired from his role as Vice President for Polymer Colloid Technology. He continues to be active in the field of polymer colloids e.g. by teaching courses at universities.
After obtaining his PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz/Germany with Prof. Ringsdorf, Dr. Reck worked as a postdoctoral fellow at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose/CA USA with Prof. C. Grant Willson. In 1989, he joint BASF. After holding different positions in research, product development and technical marketing for polymer dispersions, he was named Head of Marketing Fiber Bonding Europe in 2001, responsible for the business with acrylic dispersions and resins for nonwovens and other fibrous materials. In 2008, he returned to BASF’s Polymer Research Division, taking over a position as group leader for Polymer Colloid Technology. His group conducted research on the stabilization and crosslinking of polymer latexes, structure-property understanding of polymer dispersions for coatings, adhesives and construction applications as well as process technology development for polyacrylate and polyurethane dispersions. In 2018, he was named as Executive Expert in BASF‘s Polymer Research Division. Dr. Reck is an active member of the International Polymer Colloids Group and chaired the 2023 IPCG conference in Kingston, Canada. He co-authored more than 40 scientific and technical publications and contributed to more than 30 patent applications.
Dr. F. Joseph Schork
Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin working in the field of emulsion polymerization reactor dynamics. Industrial experience with E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company in the areas of emulsion polymerization and digital process control. Research interests in polymerization reaction engineering, digital control of polymerization reactors, system dynamics and control. Consultant to various companies in the area of polymerization reaction engineering.
