Michael Schulz

Michael Schulz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). His research focuses on designing functional polymers to address challenges in medicine, environment, and energy. Key areas include antiviral materials, toxin capture, and rare-earth element chelation. He leads the Schulz Group, which emphasizes polymer synthesis and methodology development.

Education: B.S. in Chemistry (University of Iowa, 2010), M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry (University of Florida, 2014). Postdoctoral training included work with Prof. Klaus Mullen (Max Planck Institute) and Prof. Robert Grubbs (Caltech).

Research Interests: Functional polymer design for biomedical applications (e.g., drug sequestration), environmental remediation (e.g., metal binding), and advanced materials. His group explores structure-property relationships in polymers, leveraging tools like isothermal titration calorimetry and advanced polymerization techniques.

Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including work on polymer-based drug capture, rare-earth element extraction, and antiviral materials. Recent trends focus on block copolymers, enzyme-responsive systems, and nanocomposites for biomedical and environmental applications.

• Awards: Fulbright Research Grant (2014), NSF East Asia-Pacific Fellowship (2013), Butler Polymer Research Award (2013).
• Labs: Active in polymer synthesis, materials characterization, and collaborative projects with industry partners.

His lab develops architected materials via 3D printing and advanced lithography for targeted drug delivery and environmental sensing.