Texas A&M University, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Dr. Junho Moon was awarded the MSEN Best Ph.D. Thesis Award in April 2026 for his dissertation, “Stimuli-responsive, programmable morphing materials via stereochemical control and microgel assembly“. This marks the third consecutive year that our group has received this award!
Congratulations to Dr. Moon on his achievement, successful dissertation defense, and graduation. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors!
Ph.D. student Junho Moon’s paper, “Clickable Microgel Inks Enable Spatioselective, Multi-Stimuli Programmable Assembly of Materials” has been published in Advanced Science. In this paper, a new modular concept for constructing shape morphing hydrogels with selectively programmable responses to multiple stimuli was proposed. By encoding stimuli-specific domains through direct ink writing, this responsive, clickable ink allows precise spatial patterning of differential responses in a single processing step, offering a scalable and facile route for constructing programmable hydrogel architectures with stimuli-selective shape morphing.
Graphical summary of Junho’s new article in Advanced Science
Dr. Ardak Makhatova’s paper titled “Bio-based polyelectrolyte complexes for customized soil stabilization: Linking polymer adsorption to soil mechanical performance” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Cleaner Production. This study addresses the use of bio-based polyelectrolytes (PEs) as sustainable stabilizers for soils, which contain smectites (e.g., montmorillonite (MMT)), with the emphasis on correlating the molecular binding of polymer chains to soil particles with the resulting macroscopic effectiveness of soil stabilization.
We are proud to announce that PhD candidate Junho Moon is invited to talk at the ACS POLY Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium oral session. This symposium is organized by the POLY division and held at the Spring national meetings of the ACS to recognize outstanding graduate students in polymer science and engineering.
Junho’s selection is a significant achievement, especially given the highly competitive pool of nominees this year.
Congratulations, Junho!
PhD candidate Junho Moon won 1st place at the PTIC poster fall 2025 for the poster titled “Printable Microgel Toolkits for Smart and Functional Hydrogel Structures.” The Polymer Technology Industrial Consortium poster session is held in the spring and fall annually, seeking to enable mutually beneficial interactivity between the Center and the polymers industry globally, nationally, and throughout Texas.
Congratulations, Junho!
Fall 2025 PTIC poster 1st place winner
Undergraduate student Kiyaan Aly, who participated in MSEN REU-Multifunctional Materials summer program, won 3rd place overall at the Texas A&M College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Poster Session.
Congratulations, Kiyaan! Wishing you the best in your future endeavors!
Dr. Sukhishvili stands with Kiyaan in front of his poster
