Sam Root, BS '14, Wins the 2025 Young Alumni Award
The Department of Chemical Engineering is pleased to announce that Sam Root is the winner of the 2025 Young Alumni Award. This award is given annually to recognize graduates within the last 15 years for their service to society, their professional and technical accomplishments, and their demonstrated leadership.
Sam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Macromolecular Science & Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Originally from Long Island, New York, he graduated from the University of Rochester, Department of Chemical Engineering with the class of 2014. During his time in Rochester, he first discovered his passion for research, first working with Alex Shestopalov and later with Ken Marshall at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
He earned a PhD in chemical engineering at the University of California, San Diego, where he worked with Darren Lipomi to investigate the mechanical behavior of thin films of semiconducting polymers using both experimental and computational approaches. His postdoctoral training took him to Harvard University with George Whitesides and then to Stanford University with Zhenan Bao, where he delved further into polymer materials and molecular interfaces for bio-inspired electronics and soft robotics.
Sam's scientific contributions have been recognized by numerous fellowships and awards including the Achievement Reward for College Scientists, the UC President’s Dissertation Fellowship, and selection as a Rising Star in Soft and Biological Matter. He credits his foundational training and early research experiences at Rochester as instrumental in shaping his scientific curiosity and engineering approach.
Sam will be accepting his award during Mel Weekend at the Eisenberg Symposium - Friday, 9/19 at 3:30-5:30pm in Wegmans Hall, First Floor Hallway (award will be given at 4pm). Please join us as we say congratulations on his well-deserved award!