Rice 2026 Colloquium Guest Speaker – Brett Fors

Start dateMarch 12, 2026 1:00 pm

End dateMarch 12, 2026 2:00 pm

Development and Applications of New Synthetic Strategies for Polymer Science

Brett Fors
Cornell University

Bio

Brett P. Fors was born in Polson, Montana and carried out his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Montana State University (B.S., 2006). He went on to do his Ph.D. (2011) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Professor Stephen L. Buchwald. After his doctoral studies he became an Elings Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara working with Professor Craig J. Hawker. In 2014 he joined the faculty at Cornell University and is currently the Frank and Robert Laughlin Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

Abstract

Synthetic polymers are of importance in all aspects of modern life, and during the last few decades, these materials have facilitated major societal advances. Innovative polymeric materials have the potential to address humankind’s next grand scientific and technological challenges; however, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by these materials requires new methods for gaining precise control of polymer structure and function. To address this challenge, our research group focuses on the development of new synthetic methods and catalyst systems to control polymer architecture, composition, and function to yield next-generation materials. Specifically, this presentation will detail (1) the development of cationic polymerization reactions where polymer chain growth and sequence are regulated with external stimuli and (2) the design and synthesis of sustainable polymeric materials.

Rice 2026 Colloquium Guest Speaker – Brett Fors

Development and Applications of New Synthetic Strategies for Polymer Science

Brett Fors Cornell University

Brett Fors
Cornell University