1. Patterning and Templating on Multi-Layer Films Eric Baer, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0423914 Researchers at CWRU are focused on harnessing the potential of multilayer structured films using the CLiPS process to fabricate material scaffolds and thin films with biological and bio- medical applications. Traditional large-scale production methods are limited by issues such as synthetic scalability and thermo-chemical stability during processing when working with novel polymer chemistry. Likewise, biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids show promise as therapeutic, diagnostic, and nanomaterial options, however they may exhibit poor in vivo properties such as limited half-life and bioavailability that hinder wide-scale implementation in medicine. These properties can be augmented by innovative chemical approaches, either as precursor materials or post-processing protocols, to introduce higher order functions into these types of parent structures. New chemistries and templated structures are being explored in CLiPS that will enable unique function and structure-property relationships based on both top-to-bottom and bottom-up approaches. Examples include: precursor polymers, embedded chemistry, self-immolative polymers, surface-initiated polymerizations, colloidal templates, biological composites, tissue engineering scaffolds, protein-templated chemistry and non-lithographic patterning and imprinting/embossing in thin films. We envision applications including drug delivery, electrochemical sensing, tissue-engineering scaffolds, anti- fouling surfaces, separations, particles synthesis, and reactor design – all complementing the CLiPS process. B. PS/PMMA CLIPS films patterned by reactive ion etching (RIE) using a TEM grid as masked. TEM of patterned squares showing the sides with PS layers remaining stratified A B A. Patterning by Capillary force lithography. SEM images of surface patterns transferred onto 16 layers of PS/PMMA film

2. Polymer Envoy Alumni Promote CLiPS Legacy CLiPS goal for High School Students in the Polymer Envoys program is to pursue a college education, ideally within a STEM field and, when possible, at a CLiPS institution. Another important goal is to increase the American workforce in STEM fields. The accomplish these goals, CLiPS has chosen to work with a challenged school district and students who identify with groups that are typically under-represented in STEM fields. CLiPS original goal was for half of the program graduates to go to college with a majority choosing to study STEM fields. Early in the Center’s life, we surpassed that goal and currently we count: 40 program graduates over the course of Center (100%) matriculating to college, 32 of them (80%) entering STEM Fields. This year at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) – Taneisha Deans, 2008 Envoys graduate and current PhD Candidate in Macromolecular Science & Engineering, will mentor an in-coming Polymer Envoy in her research laboratory Terrence Mathis, 2012 Envoys graduate and current CWRU sophomore and engineering major, served as Odyssey of the Mind coach to an Envoys group this summer Santiago Chabrier, 2013 Envoys graduate, will join the CWRU class of 2017 this Fall as an engineering major. Taneisha Deans Terrence Mathis Santiago Chabrier Patterning and Templating on Multi-Layer Films Eric Baer, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0423914