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Jessica D. Schiffman

Associate Professor & James M Douglas Career Development Faculty Fellow

Research Areas

● Materials synthesis (hydrogels, nanofibers, particles, thin-films, membranes)

● Characterization of materials (chemistry, morphology, function)

● Microbial interactions with materials and interfaces (cell viability, antifouling materials,
encapsulation technologies, microbial transport on materials)

● Green chemistry and engineering to control biological fouling, attachment, and function

Current Research

The Schiffman lab is an interdisciplinary and imaginative research group that designs and applies “greener” materials toward new solutions to grand challenges in human health. To achieve this goal, we have two synergistic research thrusts. In Thrust 1, Materials from biopolymers and bioactive molecules, we fundamentally prove the historically recognized intrinsic properties of biopolymers and bioactive agents by employing modern characterization techniques. With a nuanced understanding of their properties, i.e., antibacterial activity, metal ion selectivity, corrosion inhibition, we synthesize new materials that enhance their functionalities using structure-property relationships. In Thrust 2, Fundamental studies at the materials-microorganism interface, we bring an excellent understanding of materials science and engineering to the world of microbiology. We have established materials-based strategies to deter microbial contamination by studying how bacteria and microbial communities interact with materials, such as, coatings, hydrogels, membranes, and nanofibers. This work addresses the grand challenge humanity faces as microorganisms continue to gain tolerance to commercial drugs.

Learn more at www.umass.edu/schiffman/

 

Academic Background

  • BS Rutgers University, 2003

  • M Eng Cornell University, 2004

  • PhD Drexel University, 2009

  • Postdoctoral Training: Yale University, 2009-2011

For a full list of publications see Google scholar:
Kurtz, I.S. and Schiffman, J.D. (2018) “Current and emerging approaches to engineer antibacterial and antifouling electrospun nanofibers” Materials 11(7), 1059.
Kolewe, K.W., Dobosz, K.M., Emrick, T., Nonnenmann, S.S., Schiffman, J.D. (2018) “Fouling-resistant hydrogels prepared by the swelling-assisted infusion and polymerization of dopamine” ACS Applied Bio Materials.
Rieger, K.A., Thyagarajan, R., Hoen M., Ford, D., Schiffman, J.D. “Transport of microorganisms into cellulose nanofiber mats” RSC Advances 2016, 6, 24438-24445. DOI: 10.1039/C6RA01394E
Meng, X., Perry, S.L., Schiffman, J.D. (2017) “Complex coacervation: Chemically stable fibers electrospun from aqueous polyelectrolyte solutions” ACS Macro Letters 6, 505–511.
Dobosz, K.M., Kuo-LeBlac, C.A., Martin, T.J., Schiffman, J.D. (2017) “Ultrafiltration membranes enhanced with electrospun nanofibers exhibit improved flux and fouling resistance” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 56(19), 5724–5733.
Kolewe, K.W., Xhu, J., Mako N., Nonnenmann, S.S., Schiffman, J.D. (2018) “Bacterial adhesion Is affected by the thickness and stiffness of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 10(3), 2275–2281.
Kolewe, K.W., Peyton, S.R., Schiffman, J.D. “Fewer bacteria adhere to softer hydrogels”ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2015, 7(35), 19562–19569. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b04269
 
Contact Info

Chemical Engineering
N533 Life Sciences Laboratories
240 Thatcher Way
Amherst MA 01003-9364
schiffman@ecs.umass.edu

https://www.umass.edu/engineering/about/directory/jessica-schiffman