Bridgette Maria Budhlall

Bridgette Maria Budhlall, Ph.D., is a Professor and Department Chair of Plastics Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Francis College of Engineering. She holds a Doctorate in Polymer Science and Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor's in Natural Sciences from the University of the West Indies. With 8 years of industrial experience at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., her research bridges fundamental science and applied technology.

Her expertise spans:

• Polymer colloids and soft matter
• Stimuli-responsive materials for drug delivery and biosensors
• Nanomanufacturing of biomedical devices and coatings
• Biodegradable shape-memory polymers

Her publications focus on advanced materials for nanomedicine, organic electronics, and environmental applications, with recurring themes of colloidal assembly, polymer functionalization, and structure-property relationships in nanocomposites and stimuli-responsive systems.

Awards & Honors:

• Mark and Elisia Saab Endowed Professorship (2011, 2012)
• INEST Fellow (2006)
• Ken Earhart Award (1998)
• Ticona Award (1998)

She leads multiple grants including NSF-funded projects on nanomanufacturing ($300K) and bio-based plastics education ($200K), an Army grant for semipermeable membranes ($500K), and industry collaborations with Raytheon and Biosurfaces, Inc. She directs the Budhlall Polymer Colloids & Soft Matter Group, developing scalable technologies for biosensors, drug delivery, and smart coatings.