About Macromolecular Science & Engineering

We are a polymer powerhouse—the nation’s first stand-alone polymer department and the first school in the country to offer an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science program in polymer science.

In the classroom and in the lab, we were the first in our field and remain at the top of our game. Our researchers are advancing new generations of polymers to make tomorrow’s electronics, batteries, bioprosthetics, drug-delivery devices, sustainable packaging and more. We’re developing aerogels that can soak up oil spills, adhesives that stand up to extreme temperatures, and using nanoparticles to protect crops—and these same field-leading faculty members are educating the next generation of polymer scientists through our undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs.

Materials matter at Case Western Reserve. So much so that we have two departments dedicated to the subject.

History

We trace our lineage in polymer science back more than half a century. The country’s first stand-alone polymer group at an engineering school organized at Case Western Reserve’s predecessor institution the Case Institute of Technology in January 1963 under the leadership of Eric Baer, a former DuPont engineer and polymer expert who served as the first chair.

Explore 50-plus years of polymer innovation.

Contact and Location

Photo of the Kent Hale Smith Building

Visit us in the Kent Hale Smith Building
2100 Adelbert Road
Cleveland, OH 44106

 

For more information about research and education initiatives, contact Department Chair Gary Wnek. For admissions information, contact Theresa Claytor at 216.368.8555.