Kat Wakabayashi

Kat Wakabayashi is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Bucknell University's College of Engineering, specializing in advanced polymer processing techniques and sustainable materials development.

Educational background includes:

• B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
• B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
• M.A. in Chemical Engineering, Princeton University
• Ph.D. in Chemical and Materials Engineering, Princeton University
• Post-Doctoral Research in Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University

Her research focuses on polymer processing and characterization, with emphasis on solid-state shear pulverization for creating nanoscale blends, sustainable composites, and recycling post-industrial polymers. Key areas include ionomer development, biodegradable polymer foaming, and natural fiber thermoplastic composites. Her work bridges fundamental polymer physics with industrial recycling applications, particularly for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and polylactic acid systems.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on mechanochemical polymer modification through solid-state processing. Over 80% of recent work examines solid-state shear pulverization's effects on polymer morphology, recyclability, and nanofiller integration, demonstrating strong continuity in methodology and application domains.

No scientific awards are documented in available sources.

Teaching responsibilities include Materials Science and Engineering, Materials and Energy Balance, Introduction to Chemical Engineering, and Process/Product Design. While specific grant details aren't provided, her research directly addresses industrial recycling challenges and sustainable materials development. No formal student advising list is published.

Research occurs within Bucknell's chemical engineering infrastructure, utilizing the Dana Engineering Building facilities for polymer processing and characterization.