Southern Miss Polymer Science Alumna Named Rising Research Star by National Publication
Thu, 07/10/2025 - 09:43am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Dr. Katrina 鈥淜at鈥� Knauer, a 2016 graduate of The University of 麻豆传媒色情片鈥檚 (麻豆传媒色情片) doctoral program in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, has been named one of Chemical and Engineering News鈥� (C&EN) 鈥淭alented 12,鈥� a national recognition honoring early-career scientists who are making a real-world impact through chemistry.
Knauer, who now serves as chief technology officer for the Department of Energy鈥檚 National Renewable Energy Laboratory鈥檚 BOTTLE鈩� (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) Consortium, says her passion for sustainable materials traces back to childhood鈥攁nd her family dog named Penny.
As a young girl growing up in Florida, Knauer became concerned when Penny fell ill. She suspected a pesticide her mother was using might be the cause and began researching safer alternatives. Through her middle school science fair project, she found that instant grits offered a safer and more effective remedy to fire ants, bringing relief to Penny and earning Knauer a spot at state and national competitions.
鈥淭hat was a defining moment for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 realized the power of the scientific method and how solving real problems can make people pay attention. From there, my passion for environmentalism and sustainability only grew.鈥�
That curiosity eventually led Knauer to Florida State University, where she studied chemical engineering and became fascinated with polymer chemistry.
Knauer said she chose to pursue her doctorate at Southern Miss for two reasons: the strength of its polymer science program and her summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) with faculty mentor Dr. Sarah Morgan, executive associate director and professor in the Southern Miss School of Polymer Science and Engineering.
鈥淚 believed earning a Ph.D. in polymer science would give me the credibility I needed to convince the world we can make plastics better,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I absolutely loved my summer at Southern Miss鈥攖he experience, the department, the people.鈥�
At Southern Miss, Knauer thrived in both research and leadership. She was inducted into the University鈥檚 Graduate Student Hall of Fame, won the Graduate School鈥檚 3-Minute Thesis competition (placed third in the regional 3MT competition), and won the American Chemical Society Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Division Graduate Student Award, as well as the Society of Plastics Engineers best paper award. She also mentored undergraduate researchers and helped raise sustainability awareness on campus.
鈥淲e wanted to show students that living more sustainably doesn鈥檛 have to be expensive or complicated,鈥� she said of her involvement with the campus Sustainability Advocates group. 鈥淚t was so rewarding to see others get excited about making choices that are better for the planet.鈥�
Knauer credits much of her professional success to the rigorous and supportive environment at Southern Miss, particularly the mentorship of Dr. Morgan, whom she said gave her every opportunity to succeed.
鈥淪he was tough on me, but in the best way,鈥� Knauer said. 鈥淔rom my very first year, she had me presenting to companies, pitching projects, and going to conferences. Most importantly, she taught me how to communicate science in a way that anyone could understand and how to carry myself in a male-dominated field.鈥�
Dr. Morgan praised her former student as a great role model for young women in STEM and an ideal ambassador for the University and its School of Polymer Science and Engineering.
鈥淜at was an outstanding student in our graduate program, doing impactful research in sustainable polymer materials,鈥� Morgan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of her accomplishments and the recognition she鈥檚 received and look forward to what the future holds for her work in sustainability innovation.鈥�
Knauer said another thing she deeply appreciates from her time as a student at Southern Miss was how often she had to 鈥減resent in front of her peers.鈥� She said that while it felt intimidating at the time, that training gave her the communication skills that have shaped so much of her post-grad success.
鈥淚鈥檝e met students from other universities who simply didn鈥檛 get that kind of preparation. That鈥檚 why I continue to hire students from Southern Miss today,鈥� she said, noting Levi Hamernik, a recent graduate who has joined her team at BOTTLE as a post-doc, and 鈥渋s totally crushing it.鈥�
Reflecting on the 鈥淭alented 12鈥� honor, Knauer expressed surprise and gratitude.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think my work would qualify for this kind of recognition. And that鈥檚 not to downplay the impact of what my team does鈥搃t鈥檚 just not always the 鈥榝lashiest鈥� science,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut after the shock wore off, I felt joy and deep gratitude.鈥�
C&EN selected the 2025 cohort of 12 honorees from 370 nominees, praising their contributions to recycling, sustainable agriculture and environmental chemistry.