Kayla Roberta Storme
Graduate Student
Kayla is from the small town of Lisle, Illinois. She received her A.S. in Biochemistry from JJC and transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2015, where she received her B.S. in Biochemistry in 2018. Additionally, Kayla studied for an A.A.S. in Operations Engineering at JJC from 2016-2018. At UIC, Kayla researched in the Micro-/Nano-Fluid Transport Lab (MNFTL) under Professor Constantine Megaridis, evaluating methods for chemical modification and fabrication of superhydrophobic biodegradable coatings. She also investigated polyhaloalkylation and polyhaloalkenylation at the γ-position of enone substrates under Professor Justin Mohr. After receiving her B.S., she worked in chemical manufacturing at INEOS Styrolution as a Research and Development Technician. She prepared new styrenic polymers to investigate their recyclability, improved mechanical properties, and chemical/heat resistances. Now she is continuing her academic career at MIT by pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry and participating in the Program for Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM) as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. She is co-advised by Professor Tim M. Swager and Professor Zach P. Smith, synthesizing and testing new polymers for membrane-based gas separations. Outside of lab, Kayla has many hobbies including painting and sewing, swimming, playing Nintendo Switch, and taking trips on her motorcycle.