Empowering Women in Polymer Science & Engineering
The Inaugural PoWER Conference
July 11-12, 2024
Empowering Women and Gender Minorities in Polymer Science & Engineering
Northwestern University
Organized by: Prof. Julia Kalow, Dr. Jill Alty, Prof. Helen Tran, Prof. Symone Alexander, Dr. Sara Orski, and Dr. Katie Houston
Register and submit a poster abstract for PoWER 2024!
The goal of this project is to create a leading conference supporting women and gender minorities in the field of polymer science. By holding a conference dedicated to this group, we will empower and support women to enter this field and become leaders. This 1.5-day conference will provide a diverse, inclusive, and innovative environment where participants at all career stages can feel a sense of belonging, develop professional networks, and learn about opportunities. These professional networks will continue to support and enrich participants after the conclusion of the event itself.
We believe that there is a need for an event for women and gender minorities in polymer science, a broad field that includes chemistry, engineering, physics, and biology. Women comprise a minority of POLY and PMSE members, corresponding authors in polymer-focused journals, and attendees at the foremost conferences in the field. We welcome women, gender minorities, and male allies in the field of polymer science across career stages to attend the conference, participate in networking and workshops, and present their research in the poster session. Register here.
Meet the speakers
Learn more about the women speaking at PoWER 2024
Melanie Hutnick, Ph. D.
Director, Advanced Technology Pioneering (ATP) – Advanced Materials
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
LaShanda Korley, Ph. D.
Director, Center for Plastics Innovation – DOE EFRC; U.S. Science Envoy 2023 Cohort; Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
University of Delaware
Monica Olvera de la Cruz,
Ph. D.
Lawyer Taylor Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry and (by courtesy) Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physics and Astronomy; Director, Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials; Deputy Director, Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science
Northwestern University
Karen Wooley, Ph. D.
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering;
W.T. Doherty-Welch Chair in Chemistry
Texas A&M University
Emily Pentzer, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Materials Science and Engineering
Texas A&M University
Jessica Lamb, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
University of Minnesota
This program is developed for the community of women, gender minorities, and allies in polymer community across the research enterprise. This program is hosted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY) and coordinated with the Division of Polymeric Science and Engineering (PMSE).
Learn more about our sponsors→
PoWER: Polymer Women Empowerment & Research 