Matt Miri Headshot

Matt Miri

Associate Professor

School of Chemistry and Materials Science
College of Science

585-475-6004
Office Location

Matt Miri

Associate Professor

School of Chemistry and Materials Science
College of Science

Education

BS, MS, Ph.D., University of Hamburg (Germany)

585-475-6004

Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Honeycutt, D. S., et al. "Effects of alkyl and phenyl-substituted 1,3-propanediols on the synthesis and properties of polyesters with 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid." Polymer. (2022): 124584 (1 – 12). Print.
Ge, Changfeng, et al. "Preparation and Evaluation of Composites Containing Polypropylene and Cotton Gin Trash." Journal of Applied Polymer Science 137. (2020): 1-13. Print.
Borries, Frederick A., et al. "Ketalization of 2-Heptanone to Prolong its Activity as Mite Repellant for the Protection of Honey Bees." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99. (2019): 6267-6277. Print.
Bloom, Michael E., et al. "Highly Renewable, Thermoplastic Tetrapolyesters Based on Hydroquinone, p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid or Its Derivatives, Phloretic Acid, and Dodecanedioic Acid." Journal of Polymer Science, Party A: Polymer Chemistry 56. (2018): 1498-1507. Print.
Parisi, Laura R., et al. "Eugenol as Renewable Comonomer Compared to 4-Penten-1-ol in Ethylene Copolymerization using a palladium Aryl Sulfonate Catalyst." Polymer (Elsevier) 114. (2017): 319-328. Print.
Kolhatkar, Nikhil A., et al. "Salicylaldiminato Nickel(II) Catalysts with 5-Halo-3-Methoxy Groups for Ethylene Polymerization." Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry. (2012): 986-995. Print.
Miri, Massoud J., Benjamin P. Pritchard, and H. N. Cheng. "A Versatile Approach for Modeling and Simulating the Tacticity of Polymers." Journal of Molecular Modeling 17. (2011): 1767-1780. Print.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Miri, Massoud J. "Examples of More Sustainable Manufacturing – with Emphasis on Polymer Production." A Future for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Medicine and Engineering. Washington, D.C.. 19 Aug. 2020. Guest Lecture.
Miri, Massoud J. "How to Make Sustainable Polymers Marketable." 60th ACS National Meeting & Exposition. American Chemical Society. San Francisco, Cailformia. 18 Aug. 2020. Conference Presentation.
Miri, Massoud J., Dieter M. Scheibel, and William Orts. "Styrene/Eugenol Copolymers and Polyeugenol Obtained by Coordination Polymerization." American Chemical Society Fall Meeting. American Chemical Society. Indianapolis, IN. 11 Sep. 2013. Conference Presentation.
Miri, Massoud J. "Plastics for the Future - On the Way to Sustainable Polymers." American Chemical Society, California Local Section, Seminar. American Chemical Society, California Section. Berkeley, CA. 21 Mar. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Miri, Massoud J. "Toward Sustainable Polymers." 242nd ACS National Meeting. American Chemical Society. Convention Center, Denver, CO. 29 Aug. 2011. Conference Presentation.
Book Chapter
Miri, Massoud J., et al. "Copolyester Synthesis Using Glycerol from Biodiesel Production." Renewable and Sustainable Polymers. Ed. G. F. Payne and P. B. Smith. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society / Oxford University Press, 2011. 11-35. Print.
Published Conference Proceedings
Miri, Massoud J., et al. "Polyethylene/Starch Hybrids produced by Emulsion Polymerization." Proceedings of the 241th ACS National Meeting, March 27 - 31, Anaheim, CA. Ed. R. A. Gross, P. B. Smith. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society, 2011. Web.

Currently Teaching

CHEM-298
1 - 3 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in their first three years of study.
CHEM-493
1 - 3 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed student project or research in chemistry that could be considered of an original nature.
CHEM-495
1 - 3 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed student project or research involving laboratory work, computer modeling, or theoretical calculations that could be considered of an original nature. The level of study is appropriate for students in their final two years of study.
CHEM-498
1 - 3 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in their final two years of study.
CHMG-123
3 Credits
The course will address three fundamental concepts of general chemistry by covering three aspects of all chemical reactions: kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. Acid/base and oxidation/reductions will be discussed. The chemistry of metals, ceramics and synthetic polymers will be covered, including electrochemistry and a brief overview of organic chemistry.
CHMG-201
3 Credits
The first part of the course covers the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The organization, nomenclature, structure, bonding and basic reactions of organic compounds will be discussed, in particular those concepts that are relevant to understand polymer chemistry. The second part of the course will introduce the nomenclature and classification of synthetic polymers. The reactions leading to the formation of relevant polymers, their chemical and physical behavior, and some of their many applications will be discussed.
CHPO-706
3 Credits
This course is mainly about the chemistry applied to synthesize polymers. It includes initially the introduction on the naming and classification and some relevant properties of polymers. We will then discuss the two main methods of synthesizing polymers, namely step-growth polymerization and chain-addition polymerization. Among the step-growth polymerizations, syntheses of different types of polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes etc. including the reaction mechanisms will be covered. Under chain-addition polymerizations, those by four different initiators (radical, cationic, anionic or coordinative) will be explained. The mechanisms of these types of reactions will be discussed in more detail and, where feasible, effects of stereochemistry or regiochemistry will be included. In addition to the commodity polymers in each category, also the syntheses of some specialty step-growth and chain addition polymers will be included. A few examples of reactions to obtain more reactive monomers will be mentioned. Some specialty type of polymerizations, such as living free radical types, or ring-opening and cyclization polymerizations, will also be discussed. We will include examples of post-polymerization reactions. Finally, we will discuss methods to resolve environmental issues with polymers by developing more sustainable polymers.
MTSE-602
3 Credits
Polymers are ubiquitous. They are used in everyday applications as well as for specialty and cutting-edge technologies. This course is an introduction to the chemistry and physics of synthetic polymers, which include plastics, elastomers and fibers. The synthesis of polymers, their fundamental properties, and the relations between their syntheses, structure, and properties will be studied. Among the topics discussed are the morphology, thermal behavior, solubility, viscoelasticity and characterization of polymers. Copolymerization, tacticity and sustainability of polymers will also be covered.
MTSE-777
3 Credits
This course is a capstone project using research facilities available inside or outside of RIT.
MTSE-790
1 - 9 Credits
Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
MTSE-793
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis

In the News

  • October 29, 2019

    photo of chemistry research student Liam Reilly

    Student to Student: Sustainable polymers

    Liam Reilly became motivated to participate in research on sustainable polymers when he learned of the damaging effects of plastic production on our environment. His research is centered on one specific relationship we have with nature, our production and disposal of our most commonly produced material: Plastic.