Natalie Stingelin, a leading figure in polymer science and MSE, has been honored with the prestigious Jean-Marie Lehn Award, which recognizes groundbreaking contributions to materials chemistry. In a recent conversation, Stingelin shared her reflections on the award, the impact of her research, and the future of polymer science.

A Personal and Professional Milestone

“It is a tremendous honor to receive the Jean-Marie Lehn Award,” Stingelin said. “Jean-Marie Lehn’s work has profoundly shaped the way we think about supramolecular chemistry and materials design, so this recognition feels particularly meaningful for me as a trained polymer scientist.”

Stingelin’s research focuses on establishing structure-property relationships in emerging materials, particularly those with potential for energy applications and sustainable plastics. She emphasized that the award is not just a personal achievement, but a celebration of collective effort.

“Personally, it is deeply gratifying to see the efforts of my group and collaborators acknowledged in this way. We have always aimed to bridge fundamental polymer physics with real-world materials challenges. For me, the award celebrates not just individual achievement but the collective creativity, persistence, and curiosity of an entire community working to understand and control soft matter,” said Stingelin.

Advancing Characterization for Smarter Materials

Stingelin’s work has significantly advanced methods in thermal analysis and polymer characterization—tools that are essential for understanding how polymers behave across different scales.

“Understanding polymers requires being able to see and measure how structure and dynamics evolve from molecular interactions to macroscopic properties,” Stingelin said. “Advanced characterization tools, including fast thermal analysis, allow us to make these connections quantitatively.”

These innovations are more than academic. They have real-world implications for designing sustainable, high-performance materials in areas such as energy, electronics, and packaging.

“Better characterization means better control, and ultimately, smarter materials that can help address pressing societal challenges such as resource efficiency, recycling, and clean energy conversion,” said Stingelin.

Looking to the Future

When asked about the future of polymer research, Stingelin expressed excitement about interdisciplinary approaches and sustainability-driven innovation.

“I’m particularly excited about research that integrates polymer science with emerging areas such as bio-inspired systems, hybrid electronic materials, and sustainable processing,” Stingelin said. “We are entering a time when materials design can be guided by both function and responsibility, ensuring performance while minimizing environmental impact.”

She also highlighted the importance of education and mentorship in shaping the next generation of scientists.

“I see exciting opportunities in how we train the next generation of polymer scientists. Fostering interdisciplinary thinking and creativity will be key to the field’s future.”