Erik Berda

Erik Berda is Professor and Department Chair of Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire's College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, with a joint affiliation in Materials Science. He joined UNH in 2010 after completing postdoctoral research at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands under Bert Meijer. His laboratory focuses on designing nanostructured polymer building blocks from single polymer chains and developing real-world applications for these advanced materials.

Dr. Berda holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida and a B.S. in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University. His educational background provides the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach to materials science.

His research explores the frontiers of polymer chemistry, with particular expertise in:

• Synthesis and characterization of single-chain nanoparticles
• Development of electrochromic/electrofluorochromic materials
• Supramolecular assembly of functional polymers
• Biomimetic polymer design and protein-mimetic systems
• Advanced applications in energy storage and biomedical devices

Recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on polymer folding mechanisms, nanoparticle fabrication techniques, and applications in smart materials. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals including Polymer Chemistry, Macromolecules, and ACS Macro Letters.

Dr. Berda teaches courses including CHEM 400 (Freshman Seminar), CHEM 545/547/548 (Organic Chemistry), and CHEM 651 (Advanced Organic Chemistry), mentoring students through the CHEM 696 Independent Study program.