Cécile Chazot

Professor Cécile Chazot is a faculty member at Northwestern University, serving as the Principal Investigator of the Sustainable Polymer Innovation Laboratory (SPIn lab) within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She leads an interdisciplinary research team focused on sustainable polymer manufacturing and recycling technologies.

Her research interests span sustainable and scalable materials design, with particular emphasis on fiber-based materials, biopolymers, and green chemistry approaches. The SPIn lab's work encompasses fundamental understanding of polymer properties and their hierarchical self-assembly, development of room-temperature processing methods using green solvent alternatives, and creation of functional materials with tailored mechanical and optical properties including stimuli-responsive colorimetric sensing capabilities.

The research portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on sustainable manufacturing processes, including interfacial photopolymerization for high-resolution printing, scalable synthesis of ultrathin polymer films, and innovative recycling strategies for textiles. Recent work includes developing dynamic structural colors in cholesteric cellulose composites, understanding wool hierarchical structures, and creating roll-to-roll processing methods for elastane recovery.

Professor Chazot is deeply committed to educational initiatives and diversity in STEM, as evidenced by her development of the MICRO online undergraduate program designed to promote equitable access to materials science education. The SPIn lab culture emphasizes collaboration, safety, and creating an inclusive environment where diversity of thought and background drives sustainable innovation.

The laboratory's impact extends beyond research through educational outreach and promoting the socio-technical context of polymer manufacturing innovation.