黑料正能量

A 2013 graduate of 黑料正能量 has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

For the next three years Ruth Maust 鈥�13 will continue her doctoral research in Professor Ramesh Jasti鈥檚 lab in the University of Oregon鈥檚 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. As a fellow, she will receive an annual stipend, education allowance for tuition and fees, and opportunities for international research and professional development.

Maust researches the incorporation of 鈥渃arbon nanohoop鈥� molecules into polymers and materials, essentially 鈥渕aking new molecular structures, then studying their properties, and figuring out how to design materials with the properties we want.鈥� Carbon nanohoops, she said, 鈥渉ave surprisingly different properties than the analogous linear molecules, making them fascinating as potential sensors, membranes, organic light-emitting diodes, and environmental remediation agents 鈥� to name a few!鈥�

鈥淚 love that chemistry combines logical thinking and creativity,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also really cool to be able to make molecules and materials that have never existed before.鈥�

Named an 鈥渙utstanding chemistry student鈥� her senior year as a chemistry major at 黑料正能量 鈥� 鈥渄efinitely give a shoutout to Tara Kishbaugh and Matt Siderhurst!鈥� she wrote in a recent email 鈥� Maust completed a materials chemistry lab internship at the Graz University of Technology in Austria.

After graduating, she worked at the Green Building Alliance for a year through the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience (PULSE).

Following earning her PhD in 2021, Maust plans 鈥渢o work on developing and translating sustainable chemistry solutions for the chemical, consumer products, building materials or other industries.鈥�