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Michael Schulz

Associate Professor
Michael Schulz
313D Davidson Hall
mdschulz@vt.edu
540-231-8244

Research Interests

Our group is interested in using the tools of polymer chemistry to address real-world challenges. In particular, we are interested in designing functional materials that interact in a controlled manner with viruses, toxins, metals, or ionizing radiation. Studying these materials provides insight into the interplay among the (co)monomer identity, the polymer architecture, and the designed functionality, ultimately leading to materials that can play an important role in biology, medicine, and the environment.

 
  1. Archer, W. R.; Gallagher, C. M. B.; Welborn, V. V.; and Schulz, M. D.* “Exploring the role of polymer hydrophobicity in polymer–metal binding thermodynamics” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2022, ASAP. DOI: 10.1039/D1CP05263B
  2. Archer, W.R.; Thompson, T.N.; and Schulz, M.D.* “Effect of Copolymer Structure on Rare‐Earth‐Element Chelation Thermodynamics” Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2021, 42, 2000614. DOI: 10.1002/marc.202000614
  3. Bardot, M.I.; and Schulz, M.D.* “Biodegradable Poly(Lactic Acid) Nanocomposites for Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing” Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 2567–2587.
  4. Hall, B.A.; Shelton, E.B.; Wu, Y.; and Schulz, M.D.* “Synthesis and Post-Polymerization Modification of Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s Containing Pendant Sulfonamide Groups” Polymer 2021, 212, 123186.
  5.  Bianculli, R.H.; Mase, J.D.; and Schulz, M.D.* “Antiviral Polymers: Past Approaches and Future Possibilities” Macromolecules 2020, 53, 9158–9186.
  6. Archer, W.R.; and Schulz, M.D.* “Isothermal titration calorimetry: practical approaches and current applications in soft matter” Soft Matter 2020, 16, 8760–8774.
  7. Archer, W.R., Fiorito, A., Heinz-Kunert, S., MacNicol, P. L., Winn, S. A., Schulz, M. D.* “Synthesis and Rare-Earth-Element Chelation Properties of Linear Poly(ethyleneimine methylenephosphonate)” Macromolecules 2020, 53, 2061-2068.
  8. Thompson, T. N., Coley, A. S., Schulz, M. D.* “Synthesis of poly(bicyclohexyldimethylene terephthalate): effect of regioisomer ratios on physical properties” Polym. Chem. 2020, 11, 2485-2491.
  9. Archer, W. R., Hall, B. A., Thompson, T. N., Wadsworth, O. J., Schulz, M. D.* “Polymer sequestrants for biological and environmental applications” Polym. Int. 2019, 68, 1220-1237.
  10.  Blumenfeld, C. M.†, Schulz, M. D. †, Hetts, S. W., Grubbs, R. H. “Drug capture materials based on genomic DNA-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles” Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 2870. (†indicates equal contribution)
  • Fulbright Research Grant, 2014
  • 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Participant, 2015
  • Graduate Student Mentor Award, University of Florida-Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life, 2013
  • Butler Polymer Research Award, University of Florida, 2013
  • NSF-East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellow-Japan, 2013
  • UF Alumni Fellowship, University of Florida, 2010
  • Merck Index Award, University of Iowa, 2009
  • CRC Freshman Chemistry Award, 2008
  • B.S. University of Iowa, 2010
  • M.S. University of Florida, 2014
  • Ph.D. University of Florida, 2014
  • Fulbright Scholar with Prof. Klaus Mullen, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany, 2014—2015
  • Postdoctoral Scholar with Prof. Robert Grubbs, California Institute of Technology, 2015—2017

Research Areas

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