UK Chemical and Materials Engineering

08/26/2026

Jason Stallings is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Kentucky whose work focuses on biodegradable and biocompatible polymer synthesis, extraction, and functionalization for sustainable and medical applications. Prior to arriving at the University of Kentucky, Jason received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Alabama.
A major part of his graduate work involves the synthesis and characterization of polyesters based on lactone-epoxide-anhydride ring-opening copolymerization, aimed at designing biodegradable materials to mitigate the impacts of plastic waste. His additional work has focused on the valorization of bourbon-derived waste, the biological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates, and functionalization of biocompatible polymers for use in medical equipment.
Jason’s research and academics have been recognized with several honors, including a Kentucky NSF EPSCoR Mark of Distinction, the William H. McAdams Graduate Fellowship in Chemical Engineering, and the 2026 Burton E. Heard Graduate Fellowship.
Alongside his research, he has served as a Teaching Assistant in both chemical engineering and first-year engineering, and as a mentor for undergraduate researchers through Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.
Through his work, Jason aims to build a career in academia, working at the intersection of sustainable polymeric materials and human health while continuing to mentor and train the next generation of scientists.
(Image quality enhanced with Open AI)

08/23/2026

Graduate students picnic 2026

08/21/2026

Researcher Spotlight: Tibra Das Gupta, Ph.D.

Dr. Tibra Das Gupta is a materials scientist and engineer at the University of Kentucky whose work focuses on the development, processing, and characterization of advanced metallic materials for extreme environments.

Tibra earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Kentucky, where his doctoral research used a combinatorial thin-film approach to accelerate materials discovery, with particular emphasis on multi-principal-element alloys and nanoporous refractory materials. His research has combined thin-film deposition, physical metallurgy, high-temperature processing, mechanical testing, and advanced materials characterization, including SEM/EDS, FIB-SEM, EBSD, TEM, XPS, and XRD. Before beginning his doctoral studies, he worked as a Process Engineer in the steel industry, giving him additional experience in large-scale manufacturing, process control, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
He is currently working as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Kentucky on the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E CHADWICK program, where his research is focused on developing advanced tungsten-based materials for demanding nuclear-energy environments.
Through his work, Tibra aims to connect fundamental materials science with practical processing and manufacturing approaches that can enable next-generation materials for energy and other extreme-environment applications.

NuclearMaterials ThinFilms NanoporousMaterials MaterialsCharacterization Research UniversityOfKentucky

08/19/2026

We wholeheartedly welcome our brilliant fall 2026 graduate students.

05/11/2026

Dr. John Maddox is an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Kentucky’s Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, located on the Paducah campus. His teaching spans multiple engineering disciplines, including courses that support chemical engineering students. His experience working with thermal systems in extreme environments has shaped and inspired the research he pursues today.
In the field of materials engineering, Dr. Maddox is fascinated by the ability to design and create materials based on their performance needs. He emphasizes how scientific advances now allow engineers not only to improve existing materials but also to quantify their behavior through rigorous engineering analysis. Looking ahead, he sees the field moving toward additive manufacturing—particularly materials with complex internal structures—and toward new characterization and fabrication methods that enhance performance.
Dr. Maddox hopes his students and colleagues gain a deeper understanding of the complex multiphysics that govern material behavior. He brings his research directly into the classroom by incorporating real-world, cutting‑edge engineering problems into his teaching. Currently, he is planning a collaborative initiative focused on 3D‑printing representative material substrates to help characterize novel materials under development.
His advice to students is to seek opportunities to collaborate across disciplines rather than limiting themselves to a single field. Outside of work, his curiosity is fueled by open‑source software and innovative manufacturing methods.

05/07/2026

Tonight was UK Paducah's graduate recognition ceremony. Congratulations to the recipients of the awards listed below!

Outstanding Paducah Engineering Scholar Awards.
Chemical Engineering
- Junior Scholar: Brenden Mitchell
- Senior Scholar: Reese Henderson

Outstanding Paducah Engineering Student Awards
Chemical Engineering
- Junior Recipient: Brenden Mitchell
- Senior Recipient: Reese Henderson

05/04/2026

05/01/2026

Meet Chemical Engineering senior Reese Henderson!

04/29/2026

Meet Materials Engineering senior Courtney Phillips!