Rodney Priestley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rodney Dewayne Priestley
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| Born | 1979 (age 45–46) |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University Texas Tech University |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Princeton University |
| Thesis | Effects of nanoscale confinement and interfaces on the structural relaxation of amorphous polymers monitored at the molecular scale by fluorescence and dielectric spectroscopy (2008) |
Rodney Dewayne Priestley (born 1979) is an American chemical engineer and a professor at Princeton University. He studies how materials change, especially plastics called polymers. His work helps create new electronic devices and healthcare tools. In 2020, he became a Vice Dean at Princeton, focusing on new ideas. Since 2022, he has been the dean of The Graduate School.
Early Life and Education
When Rodney Priestley was young, he loved watching nature shows on National Geographic. He first thought about studying ocean life or rocks. In high school, he became very interested in chemistry.
He went to Texas Tech University to study chemical engineering, finishing in 2003. While there, he was also a long jump athlete. During a summer program at the University of Connecticut, he first learned about polymers. He worked on a project to make artificial bone materials.
Priestley earned his advanced degree at Northwestern University. He studied how very small spaces affect polymers. He used special tools like fluorescence and dielectric spectroscopy. These tools helped him see how polymers change from a hard, glass-like state to a soft, rubbery state. After that, he worked as a researcher in Paris, France.
Research and Career
In 2009, Rodney Priestley came back to the United States. He joined the team at Princeton University. At Princeton, he looks at the tiny parts of materials. He figures out how to change them for new uses in technology.
He continues to study how polymers change their state. He focuses on making very thin films and tiny particles from these materials. Priestley has studied materials made from two or more polymers mixed together. He uses special tags that glow to see if the polymer is hard or soft.
One material he studied is a type of plexiglas. This material is used in things like coronary stents (which help keep blood vessels open) and paints. He uses both experiments and computer models to understand these materials better.
His research helps control tiny structures very precisely. He has even made self-assembling biopolymers for artificial skin. Besides polymers, Priestley also studies tiny particles called nanoparticles. He has looked at using special iron particles to clean groundwater. He also explored using "Janus particles" for cleaning without needing soaps.
In 2019, Priestley became a full professor at Princeton University. He was one of the first African-Americans to hold this position there. In 2020, he became the Vice Dean of Innovation. Then, in 2022, he was named the dean of The Graduate School. He also started a health company based on science. Priestley helps edit JACS Au, which is a science journal.
Awards and Honors
Rodney Priestley has received many awards for his work:
- 2009 ACS Young Investigator Award
- 2011 National Science Foundation Career Award
- 2013 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
- 2013 American Physical Society PPG/DPOLY Polymer Lecturer
- 2014 National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering
- 2014 Purdue University Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp Lecture
- 2014 American Society for Engineering Education Top 20 Under 40
- 2014 The Root Most Influential African Americans
- 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers MSED Owens Corning Early Career Award
- 2018 World Economic Forum Young Global Scientist
- 2020 American Physical Society John H. Dillion Medal
- 2020 American Chemical Society Macromolecules Young Investigator Award
- 2023 Fellow of the American Physical Society
Selected Publications
