Originally from Wayland, Michigan, Dr. Katie Herbert attended Central Michigan University where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry. In 2019, she received her Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering from the University of Chicago where she developed tunable, responsive polymer systems leveraging dynamic covalent and mechanical bonding mechanisms. Dr. Herbert continued her studies at the University of Colorado Boulder as a Postdoctoral Associate using liquid crystalline polymer networks as responsive substrates in biological systems. In March 2022, she joined the Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) at the University of Delaware where she now serves as Director of Education, Outreach, and Research Engagement. Her current work focuses on developing CPI’s undergraduate research opportunities, expanding graduate and postdoctoral professional development, and enabling synergistic collaborations throughout the sustainability community.