Shaoqin (Sarah) Gong - Associate Professor



Contact Information

Office Address:
EMS 1261
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Phone: 414-229-5946
Fax: 414-229-6958
Email: sgong@uwm.edu

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 784
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53201

or

P.O. Box 784
Department of Materials
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Shaoqin (Sarah) Gong

Education

Ph. D. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1999
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 1994
B.E.- Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 1991
B. Economics-Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 1991

Research Interests


Polymer nanocomposites, smart materials (actuators, sensors), multifunctional drug carriers, photopolymerizable macromers for tissue engineering applications, biobased plastics, microcellular plastics, and polymer processing

Prof. Gong’s lab currently has openings for post-docs/Ph.D. students with a strong background in polymer chemistry. Researchers with expertise in developing novel drug delivery polymeric materials or functional polymer nanocomposites are strongly encouraged to apply. For Ph.D. students, a TOEFL score of 550 or above, and a decent GRE and GPA score are required. Please send your complete CV to Prof. Gong via email.

Selected Awards

  • NSF CAREER Award 2007-2012
  • UWM Research Foundation and Graduate School Outstanding Research Award 2007

Selected Publications

  1. Prabaharan, M., Grailer, J. J., Pilla, S., Steeber, D. A., and Gong, S.*, “Folate-Conjugated Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Copolymers Based on Boltorn® H40, Poly(L-lactide) and Poly(ethylene glycol) for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery,” Biomaterials, in press, 2009.
  2. Yang, X., Grailer, J. J., Pilla, S., Steeber, D. A., and Gong, S., Chen Y., and Chen, G., “Tumor-Targeting, Superparamagnetic Polymeric Vesicles as Highly Efficient MRI Contrast Probes,” Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2009, in press.
  3. Li, S., and Gong, S, “A Substrate-Selective Nanoreactor Made of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Containing Catalytic Silver Nanoparticles,” Advanced Functional Materials, 2009, in press.
  4. Tiwari, A., Aryal, S., Pilla, S., and Gong, S., “An Amperometric Urea Biosensor Based on Covalently Immobilized Urease on An Electrode Made of Hyperbranched Polyester Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles,” Talanta, in press, 2009.
  5. Prabaharan, M., Grailer, J. J., Steeber, D. A., and Gong, S., “Thermo-Sensitive Micelles Based on Folate-Conjugated Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-block-Poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery,” Macromolecular Bioscience, in press, 2009.
  6. Aryal, S., Pilla, S., and Gong, S., “Multifunctional nano-micelles formed by amphiphilic gold-polycaprolactone-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (Au-PCL-MPEG) nanoparticles for potential drug delivery applications,” Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, in press, 2009.
  7. Pilla, S., Kim, S. G., Auer, G. K., Gong, S., and Park, C. B., "Microcellular Extrusion of Polylactide with Chain-Extender," Polymer Engineering and Science, in press, 2009.
  8. Li, S., Pilla, S. and Gong S., “Temperature-Modulated Molecular Recognition by a Temperature-Sensitive Molecularly Imprinted Polymer,” Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, accepted for publication, 2009.
  9. Aryal, S., Prabaharan, M., Pilla, S., and Gong, S., “Biodegradable and Biocompatible Multi-arm Star Amphiphilic Block Copolymer as a Carrier for Hydrophobic Drug Delivery,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, in press, 2009.
  10. Pilla, S., Kramschuster, A., Lee. J., Auer, G. K, Gong, S., Turng, L. S.,”Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Flax Composites,” Composite Interfaces, invited contribution, in press, 2009.
  11. Gong S., Turng, L. S., Park, C., and Liao, L., “Microcellular Polymer Nanocomposites for Packaging and other Applications,” Packaging Nanotechnology, pp. 144-166, Chapter 6, edited by Mohanty, A., Misra, M. and Nalwa, H. S., American Scientific Publishers, 2008. ISBN: 1-58883-040-3
  12. Yang, L., Setyowati, K., Li, A., Gong, S., and Chen J., “Reversible Infrared Actuation of Carbon Nanotube-Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Nanocomposites,” Advanced Materials, 20, pp. 2271-2275 (2008).
  13. Prabaharan, M., Grailer, J. J., Pilla, S., Steeber, D. A., and Gong, S., “Amphiphilic Multi-Arm-Block Copolymer Based on Hyperbranched Polyester, Poly(L-lactide) and Poly(ethylene glycol) as a Drug Delivery Carrier,” Macromolecular Bioscience, in press, 2009.
  14. Zhang, C., Subramanian, H., Grailer, J., Pilla, S., Steeber, D. A.  and Gong, S., “Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Networks for Tissue Engineering Scaffold Applications,” Polymers for Advanced Technologies, in press, 2009.
  15. Pilla, S., Kramschuster, A., Yang, L., Gong, S., Chandra, A., Turng, L-S., "Microcellular Injection-Molding of Polylactide with Chain-Extender," Materials Science and Engineering: C, in press, 2008.
  16. Tiwari A., Gong, S., “Electrochemical Detection of a Breast Cancer Susceptible Gene Using cDNA Immobolized Chitosan-co-Polyaniline Electrode,” Talanta, 77, pp. 1217-1222, 2009.
  17. Prabaharan, M., Grailer, J. J., Steeber, D. A., and Gong, S., “Stimuli-Responsive Chitosan-graft-Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) as a Promising Material for Controlled Hydrophobic Drug Delivery,” Macromolecular Bioscience, 8(9), pp. 843-51 (2008).
  18. Yang, L., Zhang, C., Pilla, S., Gong, S., “Polybenzoxazine-Core Shell Rubber-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites,” Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 39, pp. 1653-1659 (2008).
  19.  Pilla S., Yang, L., Gong, S., O’Neill, E., Rowell, R. M, “Polylactide-Recycled Wood Fiber Composites,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 111, pp. 37-47 (2009).
  20.  Tiwari A., Gong, S, “Electrochemical Cholesterol Biosensor Based on Chitosan-SiO2-MWCNT Composite Electrode,” Electroanalysis, 20 (19), pp. 2119-2126 (2008).
  21. Prabaharan, M., Gong, S., “Novel Thiolated Carboxymethyl Chitosan-g-β-cyclodextrin as Mucoadhesive Hydrophobic Drug Delivery Carriers,” Carbohydrate Polymers, 73, pp. 117-125 (2008).
  22. Tiwari, A., and Gong, S., “Electrochemical Synthesis of Chitosan-co-polyaniline/WO3.nH2O Composite for Amperometric Detection of NO2 Gas,” Electroanalysis, 20 (16), pp. 1775-1781 (2008).
  23. Zhang, C., Liao, L., and Gong, S., “Zinc Lactate Catalyzed Ring-opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate under Microwave Irradiation,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 110 (2), pp.1236-1241 (2008).
  24. Pilla, S., Gong, S., O’Neill, E., Rowell, R. M., and Krzysik A. M., “Polylactide-Pine Wood Flour Composites,” Polymer Science and Engineering, 48(3), pp. 578-587 (2008).
  25. Liao, L., Zhang, C., and Gong, S., “Preparation of Poly(trimethylene carbonate)-block-Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Triblock Copolymers under Microwave Irradiation,” Reactive and Functional Polymer, 68, 751-758 (2008).
  26. Liao, L., Zhang, C, and Gong, S., “Preparation of Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/Clay Nanocomposites by Microwave-assisted in situ Ring-Opening Polymerization,” Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 28 (10), pp. 1148-1154 (2007).
  27. Zhang, C., Liao, L., and Gong, S., “Synthesis of PLLA-MPEG Diblock Copolymers by Microwave-assisted Copolymerization of L-Lactide and Methoxy Poly(ethylene glycol),” Macromolecule Chemistry and Physics, 2007, 208 (10), pp. 1122-1128 (2007).
  28. Pilla, S., Kramschuster, A., Gong, S., Chandra, A., and Turng, L. S., “Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites,” International Polymer Processing, invited contribution to the special edition on biobased materials, Issue 5, Volume XXII 2007.
  29. Liao, L., Zhang, C., and Gong, S., “Microwave-assisted Ring-Opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate in the Presence of Ionic Liquid,” Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 45, pp. 5857-5863 (2007).
  30. Kramschuster, A., Pilla, S., Gong, S., Chandra, A., and Turng, L. S., “Injection Molded Soldi and Microcellular Polylactide Compounded with Recycled Shopping Bag Fibers,” International Polymer Processing, Invited contribution to the special edition on biobased materials, Issue 5, Volume XXII 2007.
  31. Liao, L., Zhang, C, and Gong, S., “Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Polymer Networks Based on Acrylated Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and N-vinylpyrridione,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 105, pp. 2712-2716 (2007).
  32. Chandra, A., Turng, L. S., Gopalan, P., Rowell, R., and Gong, S., “Study of Utilizing Thin Polymer Surface Coating on the Nanoparticles for Melt Compounding of Polycarbonate/Alumina Nanocomposites and Their Optical Properties,” Composite Science and Technology, 68, pp.768-776 (2007).
  33. Liao, L., Zhang, C., and Gong, S., “Microwave-assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Poly (epsilon-caprolactone)/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites,” Macromolecule Chemistry and Physics, 208 (12), pp. 1301-1309 (2007).
  34. Chandra, A., Turng, L. S., Gopalan, P., Rowell, R., and Gong, S., “Semitransparent Poly(styrene-r-maleic anhydride)/Alumina Nanocomposites for Optical Applications,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 105 (5), pp. 2728-2736 (2007).
  35. Liao, L., Zhang, C., and Gong, S., “Rapid Synthesis of Poly(trimethylene carbonate) by Microwave-assisted Ring-Opening Polymerization,” European Polymer Journal, 43, pp. 4289-4296 (2007).
  36. Zhang, C., Liao, L., and Gong, S., “Recent Developments in Microwave-Assisted Polymerization with a Focus on Ring-Opening Polymerization,” Green Chemistry, 9, pp. 303-314 (2007).
  37. Zhang, C., Liao, L., and Gong, S., “Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of PLLA-PEG-PLLA Triblock Copolymers,” Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 28, pp. 422-427 (2007).
  38. Kramschuster A., Gong S., Turng, L. S., Li Tao, and Li, T., “Injection Molded Solid and Microcellular Polylactide and Polylactide Nanocomposites,” Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 1, pp. 37-45 (2007).
  39. Chandra A., Turng L. S., Gong S., Hall, D., Caulfield, D., and Yang, H., “Study of Polystyrene/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites via Melt Compounding for Optical Applications,” Polymer Composites, 28 (2), pp. 241-250 (2007).
  40. Liao, L., Liu, L., Zhang, C., and Gong, S., “Microwave-Assisted Ring-Opening Polymerization of e-Caprolactone in the Presence of Ionic Liquid,” Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 27, pp. 2060-2064 (2006).
  41. Li, G., Li, H., Turng, L. S., Gong, S., and Zhang, C., “Measurement of Gas Solubility and Diffusivity in Polylactide,” Fluid Phase Equilibria, 246 (1-2), pp. 158-166 (2006).
  42. Li, T., Gong, S., Turng, L. S., and Erlacher, K., “Polylactide, Nanoclay, and Core-shell Rubber Composites,” Polymer Science and Engineering, 46 (10), pp. 1419-1427 (2006).
  43. S. Gong, M. Yuan, A. Chandra, A. Winardi, A. Osorio, and L. S. Turng, “Microcellular Injection Molding,” International Polymer Processing, Issue 2, pp. 202-214 (2005).
  44. Yuan, M., Winardi, A., Gong, S., and Turng, L. S., “Effects of Nano and Micro Fillers and Processing Parameters on Injection Molded Microcellular Composites,” Polymer Science and Engineering, v45, n6, pp. 773-788 (2005).
  45. Chandra, A., Gong, S., Turng, L. S., Gramann, P., and Cordes, H., “Microstructure and Crystallography in Microcellular Injection Molded Polyamide-6 Nanocomposite and Neat Resin,” Polymer Science and Engineering, 45 (1), pp. 52-61 (2005).
  46. Yuan, M., Turng, L. S., Gong, S., Winardi, A., and Caulfield, D., “Crystallization Behavior of Polyamide-6 Microcellular Nanocomposites,” Journal of Cellular Plastics, v40, n5, pp.397-409 (2004).
  47. Winardi, A., Yuan, M., Gong, S., and Turng, L. S., “Core-Shell Rubber Modified Microcellular Polyamide-6 Composite,” Journal of Cellular Plastics, v40, n5, pp. 383-396 (2004).
  48. Chandra, A., Gong, S., Turng, L. S., and Gramann, P., “Cell Development in Microcellular Injection Molded Polyamide-6 Nanocomposite and Neat Resin,” Journal of Cellular Plastics, 40 (5), pp. 371-382 (2004)
  49. Yuan, M., Turng, L. S., Gong, S., Caulfield, D., Spindler, R., and Hunt, C., “Study of Injection Molded Microcellular Polyamide-6 Nanocomposites,” Polymer Science and Engineering, 44(4), pp. 673-686 (2004).
  50. Kharbas, H., Nelson, P., Yuan, M., Gong, S., and Turng, L. S., “Effects of Nano-fillers and Process Conditions on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Microcellular Injection Molded Polyamide Nanocomposites,” Polymer Composites, 24 (6), pp. 655-671 (2003).
  51. Rector, L., Gong, S., Miles, T., and Gaffney, K. “Transfer Molding Encapsulation of Flip Chip Array Packages,” International Journal of Microcircuits and Electronic Packaging (IJMEP), 23 (4), pp. 400-405 (2000).
  52. Gong, S., Kanicki, J., Ma, L., and Zhong, J.Z.Z. “Ultraviolet-light Induced Liquid Crystal Alignment on Polyimide Films,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 38 (10), pp. 5996-6004 (1999).
  53. Gong, S., Kanicki, J., Ma, L., and Zhong, J.Z.Z., “A Novel Structure to Solve the Viewing Angle Problems of Twisted-nematic LCDs,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 38 (7A), pp. 4110-4116 (1999).
  54. He, Y., Gong, S., Hattori, R., and Kanicki, J., “High Performance Organic Heterostructure Light-emitting Devices Using Different Transparent Conducting Oxide Contacts,” Applied Physics Letters, 74 (16), pp. 2265-2267 (1999).