Originally from Wayland, Michigan, Katie received her bachelor's degree in chemistry from Central Michigan University in 2011. In 2013, she completed her master's degree at the same university while studying the phase separation behavior of POSS in polymeric thin films with Dr. Bingbing Li. She went on to attend Case Western Reserve University as a PhD student in the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering and joined the Rowan group in July 2013. She moved with Professor Rowan in the summer of 2016 to the Institute of Molecular Engineering (now the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering) at the University of Chicago where she is currently working on her dissertation focused on interlocked macromolecules and dynamic covalent networks.
Katie is currently researching the effect of two non-conventional bonding types (mechnical and dynamic covalent) on polymeric materials. The projects take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of the school using a variety of techniques in chemistry, physics, material science, and computational theory. Using a mix of computer modeling, synthesis, and mechanical characterization, Katie develops physically complex materials such as dynamic covalent networks and slide-ring gels.
Metastable doubly threaded [3]rotaxanes with a large macrocycle
Jerald E. Hertzog, Vincent J. Maddi,Laura F. Hart, Benjamin W. Rawe, Phillip M. Rauscher, Katie M. Herbert, Eric P. Bruckner, c Juan J. de Pablo and Stuart J. Rowan. Chem. Sci. (2022), 13, 5333-5344
Controlling the Morphology of Dynamic Thia-Michael Networks to Target Pressure-Sensitive and Hot Melt Adhesives
Katie M Herbert, Neil D Dolinski, Nicholas R Boynton, Julia G Murphy, Charlie A Lindberg, SJ Sibener, Stuart J Rowan. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13, 23, 27471–27480
Dynamic reaction-induced phase separation in tunable, adaptive covalent networks.
Herbert, K. M., Getty, P. T., Dolinski, N. D., Hertzog, J. E., de Jong, D., Lettow, J. H., … Rowan, S. J. (2020). Dynamic reaction-induced phase separation in tunable, adaptive covalent networks. Chemical Science, 11(19), 5028–5036.
Strong, Rebondable, Dynamic Cross-Linked Cellulose Nanocrystal Polymer Nanocomposite Adhesives
Elvis Cudjoe, Katie M. Herbert, and Stuart J. Rowan. Strong, Rebondable, Dynamic Cross-Linked Cellulose Nanocrystal Polymer Nanocomposite Adhesives. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2018.
50th Anniversary Perspective: Solid-State Multistimuli, Multiresponsive Polymeric Materials
Herbert, K.M.; Schrettl, S.; Rowan, S.J.; Weder, C. . 50th Anniversary Perspective: Solid-State Multistimuli, Multiresponsive Polymeric Materials. Macromolecules. 2017. Vol. 50, Pg. 8845-8870.