Frankie Bouscher is currently studying to earn his doctorate in Polymer Engineering under Dr. Mark Soucek. Read more about Frankie and his academic journey in the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (SPSPE).
How does your major fit into your life’s plan?
I entered the Polymer Engineering program with the long-term career goals of finding ways to reduce plastic waste from packaging and to investigate eco-friendly solutions to problems.
What have you learned that makes a difference to you?
I have learned the importance of setting small goals and not being afraid to start from scratch when something isn’t working as planned. Setting small goals keeps work moving forward, and being able to start over brings new perspective to the situation at hand.
Why did you choose The University of Akron, specifically the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering?
While working towards my BS in Physics, I knew that I wanted to further my education by obtaining an engineering degree. I felt that the Polymer Engineering program really leveraged my strengths and would help me achieve my long-term career goals. It also helps that I grew up near Akron, so I was well aware of what the University had to offer.
Tell us about your experience in an internship or research project.
I’m not a chemist by any means, but I was recently able to make a floor coating from scratch. One day I messed up by adding too much of one component and everything worked great. It was the most exciting moment of my graduate career. I was so excited that I sent my friends a photo and called it quits for the day. Now I have a base formulation that will be used for many studies. The moral of the story is to record everything in detail so you can reproduce your work.
Who is your favorite professor or staff person and why?
Shout out to Dr. Todd Lewis — my favorite staff member. He has a wealth of polymer processing knowledge and is great at training students on how to use equipment. He has spent countless hours teaching me how to disassemble, clean, and maintain extruders. He’s my go to when I have processing questions.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on obtaining a postdoc position to continue my passion for research. I’m hoping this next step will help me decide if I want to go into academia or into industry.
Anything else you would like to share?
I have a kitty. She’s little. Adopt, don’t shop.