Macro recently hosted a grand Banquet Dinner in honor of Professor Uli B. Wiesner, the distinguished recipient of the 2023 Charles G. Overberger International Prize for Excellence in Polymer Research. During the event, Professor Wiesner captivated the audience with his groundbreaking research on block copolymers, showcasing their remarkable applications in healthcare, energy, and the arts. Currently serving as the Spencer T. Olin Professor of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University, Professor Wiesner’s insights left a lasting impression on all attendees.
The evening commenced with two poster sessions presented by our talented students, highlighting the exceptional quality and interdisciplinary nature of research within the Macro program. Led by Lisby Santiago from the Kamcev group and Henry Thurber from the McNeil group, these sessions were a testament to the students’ dedication and expertise. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated student organizers, whose efforts made these sessions a resounding success.





Engaging moments from the student poster session
This banquet dinner and poster session served as a substitute for our annual Macro symposium, owing to Macro’s successful organization of the 2023 National Graduate Research Polymer Conference (NGRPC), one of the nation’s largest polymer student conferences.
Following Professor Wiesner’s captivating keynote address, the award ceremony took place, recognizing outstanding achievements within our student community. We proudly announce the following award winners:
Professor and Mrs. Albert Yee Award: Manuela Pinheiro (Undergraduate Student, UChicago)
Outstanding Poster Awards:
– First Place (Frank E. Filisko Award): Boonjae Jang (Guo Group)
– Second Place: Shamalee Goonetilleke (VanEpps Group)
– Third Place: Lisby Santiago (Kamcev Group)
– Nonna Hamilton Student Service Award: Gregory Reimonn (Kamcev Group)
– Charles G. Overberger Student Research Award: Shuqing Zhang (Chen Group)






Student award winners receiving certificates from the Program Director Prof Jinsang Kim
Congratulations to all the award recipients, and a special thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event a memorable and intellectually enriching experience.