Megan Fieser

Megan Fieser is the Gabilan Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Southern California (USC) within the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. She leads the Fieser Lab, established in 2018, focused on developing sustainable solutions for plastic waste. Her work includes designing molecular catalysts to synthesize degradable polymers and repurpose non-degradable plastics into useful chemicals. Key projects address polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recycling and the creation of biocompatible catalysts for polymer synthesis.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry (2015, UC Irvine) and B.A. in Chemistry (2010, Washington University in St. Louis).

Research Focus: Sustainable polymer design, catalytic depolymerization, and plastic upcycling. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining inorganic, polymer, and sustainable chemistry. Public engagement includes annual beach cleanups (e.g., Alamitos Beach) to collect and analyze plastic waste, contributing over 243,526 items collected since 2019.

Awards:

• Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator Series (2023)

Lab & Outreach: The Fieser Lab offers opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research and community outreach. Research spans catalyst design, polymer synthesis, and environmental impact studies. Collaborations focus on translating lab innovations into industrial applications.