October 2023: Nicholas Stavinski

Nicholas Stavinski, 5th year PhD student in Dr. Velarde's lab.

Publications

• Stavinski, N.; Maheshkar, V.; Thomas, S.; Dantu, K.; Velarde, L. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning for postconsumer plastics recycling, Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2023, 2, 1099-1109.
• Valorization of plastic waste via advanced separation and processing.  Alexandridis, P.; Dantu, K.; Ferger, C.; Ghasemi, A.; Kerr, G.; Maheshkar, V.; Rzayev, J.; Stavinski, N.; Thundat, T.; Tsianou, M.; Velarde, L.; Zhao, Y., REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit and Conference proceedings, Wiley-Scrivener, 2023.
  
• Zhao, Y.; Chakraborty, P.; Stavinski, N.; Velarde, L.; Maheshkar, V.; Dantu, K.; Phani, A.; Kim, S.; Thundat, T. Standoff and point detection of thin polymer layers using microcantilever photothermal spectroscopy. J. Electrochem. Soc., 2022, 169, 037501.

Awards

• 2022 Russell L. Agrusa Student Innovation Award – Department of Computer Science & Engineering
• 2021 Mattern-Tyler Teaching Award – Department of Chemistry
  

Presentations

• Oral Presentation. “Molecular-level Automation for Sustainable Recycling Industries: Machine Learning Classification of Plastic Waste”. American Chemical Society - 2023 National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
• Oral Presentation. “From Crystallinity to Recoverability: Polyethylene Structure-Property Relationships for Future Recycling Technologies”. 2023 40^th Annual Chemistry Graduate Student Symposium, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
  
• Oral Presentation. “High-Throughput Multi-Modal Sensing and Computer Vision for Sustainable Recycling Industries”. American Chemical Society - 2022 Northeast Regional Meeting, Rochester, NY.
  

Broadly, our research examines the surfaces and interfaces of waste plastic chemistry using visible, mid-, and near-infrared spectroscopy. We seek to gain a more fundamental understanding of these “messy” materials to advance autonomous recycling technologies and enhance the polymer circular economy.

I enjoy having the opportunity to not only collaborate with other UB chemistry students but also those from other departments, such as Biological & Chemical Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering. These collaborations have provided me with a well-rounded science experience that will help me in my future career.

Outside of the Velarde Research Laboratory, I enjoy fishing for bass, perch, and walleye. I am also an avid football fan who enjoys attending Buffalo Bills games and rooting for my favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.