- Kajal

 About Kajal

• Advisor: Javier Read de Alaniz and Chris Bates
• Department: Chemistry
• Campus: UCSB
• BioPACIFIC MIP Research: SET 1 - Bioderived Materials; SET 4 - Degradation-Optimized Materials

 What is your research focus?

The research focuses on synthesizing water-soluble, degradable lipoic acid derivative copolymers using flow chemistry, aligning closely with the objectives of BioPACIFIC MIP, particularly within SET 4 dedicated to advancing degradable polymers and SET 1 focusing on sustainable materials and processes. This innovative approach aims to develop environmentally friendly polymers with enhanced biocompatibility and potential therapeutic applications in biomedical and industrial fields.

By leveraging flow chemistry, the project contributes to BioPACIFIC MIP's mission to foster interdisciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and materials science. Advanced characterization techniques such as FlowIR, NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy are employed to accurately determine conversion rates and polymer compositions. This ensures the quality and consistency of synthesized materials while providing valuable data to the broader BioPACIFIC MIP community.

 What excites you about NSF BioPACIFIC MIP?

The BioPACIFIC MIP Fellows program offers an ideal platform to integrate my research on water-soluble, degradable polymers into a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting. I'm eager to engage with diverse experts, leveraging their insights to advance sustainable materials and explore new applications.