I am a leader in academic research and education. I have mentored/been the advisor of twenty-four doctoral and ten MS students in the area of polymer chemistry/science. Currently, I have a research group of seven doctoral students and two postdoctoral fellows working on new materials for batteries, high performance polymers, sustainable polymers etc. I have directed NSF research centers and have collaborators around the globe. My primary focus remains the mentoring and development of the next generation of doctoral polymer/materials scientists.