Faculty
Associate Chair for Faculty Development
Director, Materials Engineering Program
The objective of our research group is to develop polymeric materials with enhanced physical properties and function. We specialize in polymer synthetic techniques, structural characterization (small-angle neutron, x-ray and light scattering), thermodynamics and self-assembly, and development of structure-property-processing relationships. We work in diverse areas including polymer circularity (polymers derived from renewable resources, (bio)degradable polymers, green chemistry approaches to polymers), advanced resins for polymer composites, structure and dynamics of block copolymer micelles, antifouling polymers and polymer brushes, and thermodynamics of polyolefin and polydiene blends.
Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, 2025
National Science Foundation Special Creativity Award, 2023
Fellow of the American Chemical Society, 2022
Teaching Excellence Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, 2020-2021
Rubber Division Sparks-Thomas Award, American Chemical Society, 2018
University of Houston Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, 2017
Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Division Young Investigator, American Chemical Society, 2017
Kavli Fellow, 2015
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2014
Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program Early Career Award, 2013
Texas Space Grant Consortium New Investigator Award, 2012
Associate Editor, Macromolecules (2023 – present)
Committee Member, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, National Academies (2021 - 2024)
Editorial Advisory Board, European Polymer Journal (2022 – present)
Editor, European Polymer Journal (2021 – 2022)
Center for Plastics Innovation Scientific Advisory Board (2020 – 2023)
Center for Sustainable Polymers Advisory Board (2020-2024)
ACS Applied Polymer Materials Editorial Advisory Board (2020-2022)
Polymer Chemistry Advisory Board (2020-2023)
Officer, Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Division, American Chemical Society (secretary in 2020-2021, vice chair in 2022, chair elect in 2023, chair in 2024, past chair in 2025)
Macromolecules and Macro Letters Editorial Advisory Board (2015-2017)
Director, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Materials Engineering and Sciences Division (2015-2017)
Executive Committee Member, National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research User Group (2013-2018; Chair 2017-2018)
Executive Committee Member, Neutron Scattering Society of America (2015-2017)
Executive Committee Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences User Executive Committee (2013-2016)
Board of Directors, South Texas Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (2013-2016)
Selected Publications
- Conrad, J. C.; Robertson, M. L. , Shaping the Structure and Response of Surface-Grafted Polymer Brushes via the Molecular Weight Distribution. JACS Au 3, 333–343 [DOI], 2023
- Khakzad, F.; Dewangan, N. K.; Li, T. H.; Samghabadi, F. S.; Herrera Monegro, R.; Robertson, M. L.; Conrad, J. C., Fouling Resistance and Release Properties of Poly(sulfobetaine) Brushes with Varying Alkyl Chain Spacer Lengths and Molecular Weights. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 15, 1, 2009-2019 [DOI], 2023
- Qiu, J.; Chen, X.; Le, A.; López-Barrón, C. R.; Rohde, B. J.; White, R. P.; Lipson, J. E. G.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Robertson, M. L, Thermodynamic Interactions in Polydiene/Polyolefin Blends Containing Diverse Polydiene and Polyolefin Units. Macromolecules 56, 2286-2297 [DOI], 2023
- Ding, W.; Hanson, J.; Burghardt, W. R.; López-Barrón, C. R.; Robertson, M. L. , Shear Alignment Mechanisms of Close-Packed Spheres in a Bulk ABA Triblock Copolymer. Macromolecules 55, 9465-9477 [DOI], 2022
- Li, T. H.; Robertson, M. L.; Conrad, J. C., Molecular Weight and Dispersity Affect Chain Conformation and pH-Response in Weak Polyelectrolyte Brushes. Polymer Chemistry 12, 6737-6744 [DOI], 2021
- Garcia, J. M.; Robertson, M. L., “The future of plastics recycling.” Science 358, 870 – 872 [DOI], 2017
- Full list of publications: http://robertsongroup.chee.uh.edu/publications.html