Nathaniel Lynd

Nathaniel Lynd serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, holding the Laurence E. McMakin, Jr. Centennial Fellowship. His research bridges fundamental polymer science with technological applications in energy, environmental sustainability, security, and healthcare through innovative materials design.

His academic foundation includes:

• Postdoctoral Associate, Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara (2007-2010)
• Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry, University of Minnesota (2007)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Michigan State University (2002)

Dr. Lynd's research program centers on sustainable polymer synthesis with emphasis on structure-property relationships in functional materials. Key thrusts include:

• Advanced copolymer structure determination techniques
• Mechanistic studies of ring-opening polymerizations
• Design of acid-degradable polyethers and orthoesters
• Membrane materials for boric acid removal and water purification
• Cryoprotective polymers for biomedical applications
• Ion-conductive materials for energy storage systems

Analysis of his 12 publications (2012-2022) reveals consistent focus on polymer architecture control and application-driven synthesis. Recent work (2020-2022) shows heightened emphasis on environmental remediation (membrane technologies) and biomedical materials (cryopreservation), while maintaining strong theoretical foundations in polymerization mechanisms and structure-property modeling.

His distinguished recognition includes:

• ACS PMSE Arthur K. Doolittle Award (2018)
• 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2019-2020)
• Editorial appointments for Macromolecules (2021-2024) and ACS Macro Letters (2019-2023)
• University of Minnesota Doctoral Fellowship (2006-2007)

While specific grant details and student names aren't provided in source materials, his active research group conducts synthesis-driven projects supported by peer-reviewed publications and industry collaborations. Current work shows increasing integration of sustainability principles across all research domains.

Dr. Lynd leads a dedicated research group developing next-generation polymeric materials, with projects spanning from fundamental mechanistic studies to applied membrane and biomaterials development. The group maintains strong industry connections through publications in Macromolecules and collaborations with membrane technology researchers.