UD - Chemical Engineering

Thomas H. Epps, III

epps_conrad

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering

215 Colburn Laboratory
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: (302) 831-0215
Fax: (302) 831-3009
Email: thepps@udel.edu
Website: http://www.che.udel.edu/epps

Education
NRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Polymers Division, NIST, 2006
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2004
M.S., Chemical Engineering (Practice School), MIT 1999
B.S., Chemical Engineering, MIT 1998

Research Interests:
Our research efforts are focused on designing novel nanostructured materials for ion-conduction applications (fuel cells, lithium batteries); analytical separation membranes; biological sensors and nanoporous templates.  Specifically, we manipulate polymer internal and external interfacial characteristics in bulk and thin film environments to influence the ordering and stability of polymer structures, particularly in block copolymers and polymer blends.

Our research group has three main areas of focus:

  • Generating network nanostructures in high molecular weight and ion-conducting polymer systems.  We are using the chemical manipulation of block copolymer and polymer blend chain structures to control the self-assembly of the bulk polymer chains in melts and solution.  These materials are suited for fuel cell and lithium battery membranes, as well as peptide and small molecule sensing and collection applications. 
  • Stabilizing triply-periodic (network) structures in ultrathin polymer films.  We examine the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the free energy landscape that influences the self-assembly of block copolymers in ultrathin (20-100 nm) film geometries.  We employ a novel flow-coating approach to generate films on gradient surfaces to enable the combinatorial mapping of polymer nanostructures. 
  • Synthesizing novel block copolymer structures in microfluidic devices.  We manufacture microfluidic devices in our lab capable of synthesizing novel polymer structures.  We use microfluidics to provide precise control over polymer chain compositions and architectures to design materials directly tailored for specific applications.

RECENT PRESS

Health experts to address issues in education, research, practice
January 26, 2012--DHSA will hold its inaugural Global Health Symposium on Saturday, Feb. 4 at CCHS. The program will focus on education, research and practice, with presentations on topics ranging from refugee health clinics and relief medicine to anthropological approaches to the study of global health.
Christiana Care issues a call to men to prevent domestic violence
January 24, 2012--Christiana Care, a National Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health, has been working for years to help women who are victims of domestic violence at an annual event that offers resources, education and support.
After Holiday Eating Marathon, Jefferson Dietitian Offers 10 Tips to Get Back on Track and Kick Start New Year's Weight Loss Resolution
January 4, 2012--Celebrating the New Year goes hand-in-hand with creating resolutions to get healthy and trim - especially after weeks of holiday marathon eating. Dietitian Emily Rubin, R.D., L.D., with the Division of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, says you can stay committed to being healthy and fit by following these 10 tips.
Procedure saves teen after rare carotid trauma
January 4, 2012--Neurointerventionalist Gregg Zoarski, M.D.'s recent surgical grand rounds lecture on carotid artery injuries focused on how to repair traumatic injuries to these vital vessels that supply blood to the brain.
Medical students delighted with Delaware branch campus Christiana Care is participating in Jefferson Medical College’s Delaware Branch Campus program, underscoring the transformative role the health system plays in medical education.
December 23, 2011--This achievement specifically spotlights our core competency in providing clinical education to third- and fourth-year medical students. Christiana Care has a long-standing relationship in providing first-rate medical education to students from Jefferson, one of the country's top-rated medical collleges.
Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) Network celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month.
December 22, 2011--Earlier this month the Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) network celebrated its one-year anniversary. The Healthy Kids Delaware network has been working to address health and wellness needs of children throughout New Castle County.
Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice
December 14, 2011--Registration is now open for Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center's (JCIPE) 2012 conference: Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice. The conference will be held on May 18-19, 2012 at Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of this conference is to showcase scholarly work and works in progress advancing interprofessional education and/or practice. This conference reflects on innovative implementation and evaluation strategies of the interprofessional competencies.
Nemours participates in Partnership for a Healthier America Summit
December 8, 2011--The Partnership, of which Nemours is a founding member, has a mission of supporting First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign by working with the private sector to fight childhood obesity. The theme that emerged at the summit, a gathering of leaders from business and industry, academia, nonprofits and government, was: "Make the healthy choice the easy choice."
DHSA plans workshop on collaborative education for clinicians and scientists
December 8, 2011--DHSA will host "Creating Clinical and Research Teams for the Future: Workshop on Collaborative Education for Clinicians and Scientists" on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at the Ammon Education Center of Christiana Hospital. This workshop focuses on developing skills to write educational grants. The program will include information on how to obtain educational grant funding, set goals and evaluate an educational program, and develop an application for the DHSA Education Pilot Award.