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Macromolecular Science and Engineering MSE

Contact Macromolecular Science & Engineering Admissions

Image of Jinsang Kim
Prof. Jinsang Kim

Program Director

Carolina Benn

Program Manager

 

Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Michigan Statistics

5:1

faculty-to-graduate student ratio

SMALL, DIVERSE
interdisciplinary program

57%

female students

86%

international students

CLOSE-KNIT
student community

39

affiliated faculty across the University, including Engineering, Chemistry, Medical & Dental Schools

Why Macromolecular Science & Engineering at Michigan?

We have been a leader in polymer science and engineering since 1968, and our graduates have gone on to have successful careers at influential companies, national labs, and academic research institutions.

The program’s opportunities for networking, exceptional faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation are unparalleled. Our coursework is rooted in polymer chemistry and physics, but it is flexible based on the student’s individual interests and needs.

What can you do with an MS/MSE in Macromolecular Science & Engineering?

A master’s degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering provides students with advanced study and research training in the growing field of polymer science and engineering.

In addition to laying the foundation for students pursuing doctoral studies, this degree prepares students to work in a variety of industries and academia.

Academic Areas

The master’s program in Macromolecular Science & Engineering consists of 30 hours of coursework including 9 hours of core curriculum.

Additionally, each student has the ability to tailor their degree to include courses in other areas of engineering, the natural sciences, and medicine.  Students will choose one of the following disciplines and elect 9 credit hours in that subject matter:

  • Biomaterials Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Organic Electronics and Photonics
  • Physics

Courses Offered

Individualized plans of study will be developed by students in consultation with an advisor. Click on the Bulletin for a description of each course.

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies Program (SUGS)

Current University of Michigan engineering students can complete both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only five years with SUGS by taking some graduate-level classes during your undergraduate years, so you can save yourself one semester and complete a master’s with only two additional semesters.

Practice your purpose

Apply the skills you are learning in class to the real world. There is a rich variety of experiential learning opportunities to help you find your niche, connect with people who share your passion, and gain hands-on experience that’ll set your resumé apart from the stack.

Graduate Student Involvement

American Chemical Society POLY/PMSE - Student Chapter

American Chemical Society POLY/PMSE - Student Chapter

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Professional Development

Engineeering Career Resource Center (ECRC)

Engineeering Career Resource Center (ECRC)

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Rackham Professional Development

Rackham Professional Development

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Macromolecular Science and Engineering Research

Student holds a new material in his hands
Prof. Jinsang Kim

Prof. Jinsang Kim

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Prof. Ronald Larson

Prof. Ronald Larson

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Prof. Anne McNeil

Prof. Anne McNeil

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Prof. Jay Guo

Prof. Jay Guo

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Prof. Jeff Sakamoto

Prof. Jeff Sakamoto

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Macromolecular Research

Macromolecular Research

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Research Videos

Alumni Bios

Each of these alumni were once in your shoes, deciding on a master’s degree. Explore their educational path and how it set their life in motion.

Image of Huanghe Li

Huanghe Li

MS Macromolecular Science & Engineering, 2017

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Chemical Engineering PhD Candidate

Image of Midori Maeda

Midori Maeda

MSE Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2016

Georgia Tech

PhD Candidate

Image of Justin Silpe

Justin Silpe

MS in Macromolecular Science & Engineering, 2013

Harvard University

Postdoctoral Researcher

Image of Nathan Wood

Nathan Wood

MSE Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2017

BASF

Technical Support Engineer

Image of Omkar Gupte

Omkar Gupte

MS Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2016

Georgia Institute of Technology

PhD Candidate

Image of Huanghe Li

Huanghe Li

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, BS Polymer Chemistry, 2015 

University of Michigan, MS Macromolecular Science & Engineering, 2017

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Chemical Engineering PhD Candidate

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Career Summary

My pragmatism philosophy of engineering research was built during my master’s period in U-M, and has been developing and helping me on PhD research work here in RPI Chemical Engineering. That is, to implement your ideas from the beginning and develop your ideas during practice. Engineering research is not done from just literature reviewing, but more from your own discoveries in the lab.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Talk to professors more about your future research and career plan, especially when applying to new positions (grad school or industry). There are many professors (like Dr. Jinsang Kim) caring about your personal development!

Image of Midori Maeda

Midori Maeda

University of Florida, BSE Materials Science and Engineering, 2014

U-M, MSE Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2016

Georgia Tech

PhD Candidate

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Career Summary

Realizing early on that I was interested in a career in research, my time in undergrad consisted of two materials research experiences and three Research and Development (R&D) internships. These experiences helped me to decide to pursue a career in R&D in industry developing medical products or biomaterial therapeutics. I realized that the type of hands-on roles I was targeting required a Ph.D and more biomedical/biology skills to supplement my materials background. That led me to pursue a Master’s degree which helped me gain the skills that I still needed to transition from polymeric materials research into more biomedical research. Now I’m conducting biomedical engineering research as a Ph.D. student where I get to use both my materials background and biomedical training every day. After completing a Ph.D. I’ll be applying to R&D jobs related to biomaterial design and manufacturing. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Master’s degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering communicates my in-depth specialization in polymers, while my thesis work during my Master’s shows my experience in applying these principles to biomedical applications. Without my Master’s degree, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue the opportunities that I am able to today. However, as an important note, I could have pursued comparable opportunities had I gone directly from BSE to Ph.D. 

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

During my time at Michigan as a graduate student, being involved in two organizations – the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Macro-ACS chapter – helped me find community, meaningful friendships, support, and so much advice that helped me during the program and while applying to Ph.D. programs. My advice is to find at least two mentors, one who is a few years ahead in your program, and another outside of your program but pursuing similar goals to yours. Their guidance will be valuable as you confront challenges and as you plan the next steps after graduation. 

Image of Justin Silpe

Justin Silpe

University of Michigan, BS in Macromolecular Science & Engineering, 2012

University of Michigan SUGS, MS in Macromolecular Science & Engineering, 2013

Harvard University

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Career Summary

I completed my undergraduate/graduate concurrent program at Michigan and knew that I wanted to continue doing research. I became interested in molecular biology and thought that having an engineering perspective might help me think about important questions in the field differently. I am now finishing up my PhD in molecular biology this month and will continue on in academia and hope to further diversify my skills as a postdoctoral research fellow in a more chemistry field. I have found basic science research extremely rewarding and I think that it is benefited by people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, views.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about different areas of research being conducted all over the University. 

Image of Nathan Wood

Nathan Wood

University of Michigan, BSE Chemical Engineering, 2016 

University of Michigan, MSE Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2017

BASF

Technical Support Engineer

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Career Summary

(2.5 years) as a Scientist developing next generation materials for the 3D printing industry. (3 months – present) as an engineer supporting business growth for a separate 3D printing technology.

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

The Master’s degree helped by providing learning opportunities and time to explore new subjects that I started to get more interested in. My interests transitioned from my undergrad major, and the Masters degree provided personal improvement as well as benefits when finding my first job.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Take time to really learn what you like to do and what you are good at. Don’t be pressured into “checking off boxes” or chasing an opportunity that you don’t really want (aka job at a company just because it has a prestigious reputation) because it may look good on a resume. College is a time to really figure out what you want to do before you get hit by the demands of a full time job or graduate school.

Image of Omkar Gupte

Omkar Gupte

Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, BTech Polymer Engineering, 2015

University of Michigan, MS Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2016

Georgia Institute of Technology

PhD Candidate

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Career Summary

I am a PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech. The time I spent at U-M working on research projects helped me to think independently which has contributed in a big way during my PhD experience

Advice to Students

The ACS Poly/PMSE U-M chapter was very interesting. I was also a part of Macro Outreach program and had some really nice experiences talking about polymers to middle and high school students.

Blue liquid being squirted into a petrie dish with an eyedropper

Industries & Occupations

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  • Aerospace
  • Agriculture
  • Alternative Energy
  • Automotive
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemicals
  • Medicine
  • Nanotechnology
  • Scientific Research and Development

Companies

  • 3M
  • BASF
  • Dow Chemical
  • DuPont
  • Intel
  • PPG Industries
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Wacker

Salaries

Discover the value of a master's degree!

On average, U-M graduates with a master’s degree in an engineering field can earn 15-25% more than those with a bachelor’s degree in engineering.  Use the links below to research average salaries based on a U-M engineering master’s degree, experience level, and desired work location

Other potential titles not listed: polymer scientist/engineer, polymer chemist, process engineer.