Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

R&D Leader, The Dow Chemical Company (Lake Jackson, TX), March 2019 – present

Responsible to lead PE Product R&D labs and warehouse teams (~10 technologists) and to define and implement lab strategy in line with business needs. Also in this role, I am the PE Prod R&D focal point for sustainability, recycling, and circular polymer initiatives, including managing the research project portfolio and serving as the R&D representative on various sustainability business teams.

Key Responsibilities:
– Manage prime expense, define capital strategy, oversee capital budget for the group, and lead development of new capabilities to accelerate innovation and support business growth.
– Accountable for performance management, team building, reward and recognition, employee development and engagement. Also serve as hiring manager for PE Product R&D
– Identify, champion and charter projects in support of strategic objectives across the department, including those around sustainability, digitization, strategic hiring, training, and talent development.

Associate Research Scientist, The Dow Chemical Company (Lake Jackson, TX), March 2017 -2019

In Packaging and Specialty Plastics, Polyethylene Product R&D, I served as the Polyethylene R&D additive focal point responsible for materials formulation to enhance and tune material properties for end use performance. Maintained understanding and followed state of the art technology in additives via relationships with suppliers. Applied expertise in polymer structure-property-processing relationships to enable the design of innovative new materials, offering benefits in performance, cost and sustainability. Lead and participated in multi-functional teams to drive new product technology development from concept shaping and validation to scale-up and commercialization. Created and secured intellectual property.

Senior R&D Engineer, The Dow Chemical Company (Freeport, TX), Aug 2014 – March 2017

  • Packaging and Specialty Plastics business R&D
  • Resolved technology challenges through focused scientific methodology, multidisciplinary approach and innovative thinking.
  • Participated in industry conferences, work groups, and coordination of several research projects.

Graduate Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), 2010-2014

Visiting Researcher, Cardiff University (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.), 2011

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA), 2008-2010

  • Senior research thesis:”Hydrogen Physisorption on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes via Monte Carlo Calculations.”

Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), 2009

  • Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Soft Materials, Advisor: Prof. Ralph Colby

Teaching Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), 2013

Academic Tutor, Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA), 2007-2010

Education

Ph. D. in Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), 2014

B. S. in Chemistry, Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA), 2010

  • Minors: Mathematics and Computational Chemistry

Awards and Honors

Professional Service and Leadership

  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Division of Polymer Modifiers & Additives Board of Directors, 2017-present
  • Guest Lectures/Webinars:
    • Marketing Principles, Eastern Kentucky University, Fall 2018
    • Global Marketing (BUS 468), University of Rhode Island,  Spring 2016
    • Global Marketing (BUS 468), University of Rhode Island, Winter 2016
    • Marketing Research (MK 447), Boston University, Fall 2015
  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Next Gen Advisory Board member, 2017-2018
  • Subject Editor for Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO) journal, 2015-present
  • STEM Ambassador Volunteer:
    • You Be The Chemist Club (Lake Jackson, TX), 2015-2016
    • FIRST Robotics (Angleton, TX), 2016-2017
  • Peer-reviewer for: Langmuir (ACS), Journal of Membrane Science (Elsevier), Journal of Molecular Modeling (Springer)
  • Younger Chemist Leadership Development Workshop, ACS Leadership Institute, 2016
  • President, Materials Research Society: Penn State Chapter, 2011-2012
  • Senator, Mercyhurst College Student Government, 2009-2010
  • Committee Chair, Mercyhurst College Ambassador’s Club, 2008-2010
  • The Leadership Certification Program, Level I & II, Mercyhurst University, 2007-2009

Publications

*All article PDFs available upon request.

ORCID 0000-0002-8158-038X

ResearcherID: G-3665-2011

(500+ citations, h-index = 13 via Google Scholar)

  1. G. Kupgan, L. J. Abbott, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Modeling Amorphous Microporous Polymers for CO2 Capture and Separations,” Chemical Reviews, 118 (11), 5488–5538, 2018.
  2. C. G. Bezzu, M. Carta, M.-C. Ferrari, J. C. Jansen, M. Monteleone, E. Esposito, A. Fuoco, K. Hart, T. P. Liyana-Arachchi, C. M. Colina, and N. B. McKeown, ” The synthesis, chain-packing simulation and long-term gas permeability of highly selective spirobifluorene-based polymers of intrinsic microporosity,” Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 6, 10507–10514, 2018.
  3. S. J. Rukmani, T. P. Liyana-Arachchi, K. E. Hart, C. M. Colina, “Ionic-Functionalized Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity for Gas Separation Applications,” Langmuir, 34 (13), 3949–3960, 2018.
  4. L. Wang, N. Santos Jr., A. Banks, Y. Huang, K. E. Hart, R. Keaton, Y. He, E. Keene, M. Hill, “Clarification of linear low-density polyethylene using Bis-oxalamide compounds,” Polym. Eng. Sci., 58 (2), 142-149, 2018.
  5. I. Rose, C. G. Bezzu, M. Carta, B. Comesaña-Gándara, E. Lasseuguette, M. C. Ferrari, P. Bernardo, G. Clarizia, A. Fuoco, J. C. Jansen, K. E Hart, T. P. Liyana-Arachchi, C. M. Colina, N. B. McKeown, “Polymer ultrapermeability from the inefficient packing of 2D chains,” Nature Materials, 2017.
  6. K. E. Hart and C. M. Colina, “Correction to “Ionomers of Intrinsic Microporosity: In Silico Development of Ionic-Functionalized Gas-Separation Membranes”,” Langmuir, 33 (24), 6203–6203, 2017.
  7. B. Habersberger, K. E. Hart, T. Huang, and D. Gillespie, “Heterogeneous Deuterium Distribution in Commercial Polyolefins: Measurement and SANS Model,” Macromolecules, 48 (16), 5951–5958, 2015.
  8. H. Frentrup, K. E. Hart, C. M. Colina, and E. A. Muller, “In Silico: determination of gas permeability by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics: CO2 and He through PIM-1,” Membranes, 5 (1), 99–119, 2015. *open source
  9. K. E. Hart, L. J. Abbott, M. Lisal, and C. M. Colina, “Morphology and Molecular Bridging in Comb- and Star-Shaped Diblock Copolymers,” J. Chem. Phys., 141, 204902, 2014.
  10. K. E. Hart and C. M. Colina, “Ionomers of Intrinsic Microporosity: In Silico Development of Ionic-Functionalized Gas-Separation Membranes,” Langmuir, 30 (40), 12039–12048, 2014.
  11. K. E. Hart and C. M. Colina, “Estimating gas permeability and permselectivity of microporous polymers,” J. Membr. Sci., 468, 259–268, 2014.
  12. G. S. Larsen, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Predictive simulations of the structural and adsorptive properties for PIM-1 variations,” Mol. Simul., 40 (7-9), 599–609, 2014.
  13. K. E. Hart, J. Springmeier, N. B. McKeown, and C. M. Colina, “Simulated swelling during low-temperature N2 adsorption in polymers of intrinsic microporosity,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 15 (46), 20161–20169, 2013.
  14. X. Zhou, Y. Li, K. E. Hart, L. J. Abbott, Z. Lin, F. Svec, C. M. Colina, and S. R. Turner, “Nanoporous Properties of Semi-Rigid Alternating Copolymers via Nitrogen Sorption and Molecular Simulation,” Macromolecules, 46 (15), 5968–5973, 2013.
  15. K. E. Hart, L. J. Abbott, N. B. McKeown, and C. M. Colina, “Toward effective CO2/CH4 separations by sulfur-containing PIMs via predictive molecular simulations,” Macromolecules, 46 (13), 5371–5380, 2013.
  16. L. J. Abbott, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Polymatic: a generalized simulated polymerization algorithm for amorphous polymers,” Theor. Chem. Acc., 132 (3), 1334, 2013.
  17. K. E. Hart, L. J. Abbott, and C. M. Colina, “Analysis of force fields and BET theory for polymers of intrinsic microporosity,” Mol. Simul., 39 (5), 397–404, 2013. *Featured on cover.
  18. G. S. Larsen, P. Lin, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Molecular Simulations of PIM-1-like Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity,” Macromolecules, 44 (17), 6944–6951, 2011.

Conference Proceedings (Non-refereed)

  1. K. E. Hart, L. J. Abbott, G. S. Larsen, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina, “Improved simulated structure generation of linear polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs),” PMSE Preprint, Abstr. Pap. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 242, 2011.
  2. L. J. Abbott, K. E. Hart, G. S. Larsen, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina, “Novel nanoporous polymers: In silico design,” PMSE Preprint, Abstr. Pap. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 242, 2011.

Software/Programs

  1. M. Fortunato; L. J. Abbott; K. E. Hart; C. M. Colina, “nuSIMM: nanoHUB user Simulation Interface for Molecular Modeling,” https://nanohub.org/resources/nusimm. (DOI: 10.4231/D38W38368).

Selected Conference Presentations

Invited Presentations

  1. K. E. Hart and C. M. Colina, “Computational Materials Design,” Saint Gobain University Days. Boston, MA, Dec. 12-13, 2013.
  2. K. E. Hart and C. M. Colina, “Toward effective CO2/CH4 separations by sulfur-containing PIMs: insight from molecular simulations,” 245th ACS National Meeting and Exposition. New Orleans, LA, April 7–11, 2013.

Conference Presentations

*presenting author

  1. S. J. Rukmani, T. Liyana-Arachchi, K. E. Hart, C. Colina, “Ionic-Functionalized Polymeric Microporous Materials,” APS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA. March 14, 2017.
  2. L. Wang*, N. Santos Jr., A. Banks, Y. Huang, K. E. Hart, R. Keaton, Y. He, E. Keene, M. Hill, “Using bis-oxalamides to reduce the haze of linear low-density polyethylene,” SPE, 2017.
  3. B. Habersberger*, K. E. Hart, T. Huang, and D. Gillespie, “Modeling neutron scattering in disperse, nonuniformly labeled commercial polyolefins,” APS National Meeting. Baltimore, MD, March 14-18, 2016.
  4. B. Habersberger*, K. E. Hart, T. Huang, and D. Gillespie, “Heterogeneous deuterium distribution in commercial polyolefins: Measurement and sans model,” 28th International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterization. Houston, TX, June 8–10, 2015.
  5. B. Habersberger*, T. Huang, K. E. Hart, D. Gillespie, and D. Baugh III, “Characterization of the distribution of deuterium as a function of molecular weight in d-labeled commercial polyolefins,” 249th ACS National Meeting and Exposition. Dever, CO, Mar. 22–26, 2015.
  6. K. E. Hart* and C. M. Colina, “Ionomers of Intrinsic Microporosity: In Silico Development of Ionic-Functionalized Gas-Separation Membranes,”AIChE Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA, Nov. 16-20, 2014.
  7. K. E. Hart* and C. M. Colina, “Estimating CO2 Permeability from Atomistic Models of PIMs for Screening of Gas Separation Performance,”AIChE Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA, Nov. 3-8, 2013.
  8. H. Frentrup*, K. E. Hart, C. M. Colina, and E. A. Muller, “Direct simulations of molecular transport and permeation of gases in polymeric membrane materials for separation processes,” AIChE Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA, Nov. 3–8, 2013.
  9. L. J. Abbott, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina*, “A General Predictive Simulation Methodology for Amorphous Polymeric Materials,” 245th ACS National Meeting and Exposition. New Orleans, LA, April 7–11, 2013.
  10. K. E. Hart* and C. M. Colina, “Predicting CO2 Adsorption in Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity,” AIChE Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA, Oct. 28–Nov. 2, 2012.
  11.  L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Predictive virtual synthesis and characterization of glassy materials,” AIChE Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA, Oct. 28–Nov. 2, 2012.
  12. L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “A Predictive Structure Generation Methodology for Molecular Simulations of Glassy Polymers,” FOMMS 2012: Foundations for Discovery and Data. Mt. Hood, OR, July 22–26, 2012.
  13. K. E. Hart*, L. J. Abbott, R. G. D. Taylor, N. B. McKeown, and C. M. Colina, “Understanding and Improving Surface Areas for PIMs Through Molecular Simulations,” IUPAC Polymer Division: World Polymer Congress. Blacksburgh, VA, June 24-29, 2012.
  14. K. E. Hart*, L. J. Abbott, R. D. G. Taylor, N. B. McKeown, and C. M. Colina, “Modeling gas adsorption of sulphur-containing Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity,” IUPAC Polymer Division: World Polymer Congress. Blacksburg, VA, June 24–29, 2012.
  15. L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Virtual synthesis and characterization of intrinsically microporous materials,” IUPAC Polymer Division: World Polymer Congress. Blacksburg, VA, June 24–29, 2012.
  16. K. E. Hart*, L. J. Abbott, R. D. G. Taylor, N. B. McKeown, and C. M. Colina, “Predictive Modeling of Sulphur-Containing Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity,” EUPOC12: Porous polymers-based systems. Gargnano, Italy, June 3–7, 2012. * First place poster presentation winner.
  17. L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Insight into the Porosity of Organic Molecules of Intrinsic Microporosity via Molecular Simulations,” EUPOC12: Porous polymers-based systems. Gargnano, Italy, June 3–7, 2012.
  18.  L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, and C. M. Colina, “Predictive Virtual Synthesis of Glassy Polymers,” Materials Day 2012: Converging on Materials. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, April 23–24, 2012. *Second place poster presentation winner.
  19. L. J. Abbott*, K. E. Hart, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina, “A General Polymerization Algorithm for Amorphous Microporous Polymeric Materials,” AIChE Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN, October 16–21, 2011.
  20. L. J. Abbott, K. E. Hart, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina*, “Molecular Simulations of Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity: Structure Generation by a Simulated Polymerization Algorithm and Gas Adsorption Studies,” AIChE Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN, October 16–21, 2011.
  21. K. E. Hart*, L. J. Abbott, G. S. Larsen, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina, “Improved Structure Generation of Linear Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs),” 242nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition. Denver, CO, Aug 28–Sept 1, 2011.
  22. K. E. Hart*, L. J. Abbott, P. Lin, and C. M. Colina, “Designing linear Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) for gas storage applications,” 10th International Conference on Materials Chemistry. University of Manchester, UK, July 4–7, 2011.
  23. K. E. Hart* and R. Brown, “Physisorption of Hydrogen on Carbon Nanotubes,” Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference. Erie, PA, April, 2010.
  24. K. E. Hart* and J. D. Williams, “The Synthesis of Citraconic Anhydride from Itaconic Anhydride by Dimethyl Sulfoxide,” Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Cleveland, OH, May 20-23, 2009.
  25. K. E. Hart* and J. D. Williams, “The Synthesis of Citraconic Anhydride from Itaconic Anhydride by Dimethyl Sulfoxide,” Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference. Erie, PA, April, 2009.