Wan-Ting Chen

Wan-Ting (Grace) Chen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plastics Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Francis College of Engineering. She directs the Plastics & Environment Research Laboratory (PERL) and has established herself as a leading researcher in sustainable plastics technologies. Her work bridges engineering, environmental science, and materials science with significant contributions to plastic recycling and sustainable material development.

• Ph.D. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2017)
• Postdoctoral training in Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (2018)
• BS in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (2011)

Dr. Chen's research focuses on four interconnected pillars: advanced recycling of plastic and municipal waste, biodegradable and biobased polymeric materials, interfacial phenomena between microplastics and biofilms, and safer and renewable solvent design. Her work spans chemical, material, and mechanical recycling approaches with strong emphasis on practical applications and industrial partnerships. The laboratory she directs is equipped with reactors for hydrothermal processing of plastic waste and biomass, as well as various characterization tools for analyzing fuels, polymers, thin films, and microplastics.

Analysis of Dr. Chen's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward practical solutions for plastic waste management, with increasing focus on military applications (particularly MRE packaging), microplastic pollution mitigation, and safer chemical processing. Her work demonstrates a progression from fundamental studies on plastic conversion to applied research addressing specific industry challenges, particularly in food packaging, military applications, and electronic waste recycling. The interdisciplinary nature of her research is evident in the diverse journals where her work appears, spanning polymer science, environmental engineering, food science, and energy research.

• 2022 Department Teaching Excellence Award
• Over 45 peer-reviewed publications with 3800+ citations and H-index of 28
• Editorial board member for Communications Engineering and Scientific Reports
• Member of REMADE Technical Advisory Committee

Dr. Chen has successfully mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, with many alumni securing positions in leading companies like DuPont, Covestro, and NREL. Her research group has secured significant funding from diverse sources including the REMADE Institute, U.S. Department of Energy, Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center, United Soybean Board, and multiple industry partners. Current projects include military plastic waste valorization, sustainable packaging for MRE rations, and developing soy-based biodegradable mulch films. She also serves as an active member of professional societies including AIChE, ACS, and ASABE, frequently presenting her work at international conferences and serving as guest editor for special journal issues on plastic waste recycling.