Biosketch
Prof. LaShanda T. J. Korley is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering in the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD). Her innovative research program utilizes a bioeconomy framework or the nexus of biologically-inspired and sustainable principles for the molecular design and manufacture of functional polymeric systems, including thermoplastics, networks, composites, and gels. Prof. Korley is the Director of the Energy Frontier Research Center – Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) funded by the Department of Energy and also the Co-Director of the Materials Research Science and Center – UD Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (UD CHARM). She also is the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE): Bio-inspired Materials and Systems and the Associate Director of the Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers (CRiSP) at the University of Delaware.

Awards
2023 ACS Fellow
2023 RSC Fellow
2023 AIChE Fellow
2023 ACS POLY Fellow
2023 U.S. Science Envoy
2022 AIChE MAC William W. Grimes Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering
2022 APS Fellow
2022 ACS PMSE Fellow
2021 AIChE MAC Gerry Lessells Award
2021 Chemical and Engineering News Black Trailblazer
2020 AIMBE Fellow
2019 NOBCChE Lloyd N. Ferguson Young Scientist Award

Research Interests
Bio-inspired, functional systems
Sustainable materials
Plastics deconstruction and upgrading
New fiber and composite manufacturing