Mason Freud

Mason Freund received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2020. His
undergraduate capstone project included FEA simulations of ball stud bearings with a focus on replicating and predicting fracture strengths. His current interests include in situ energetic material observation at the micro and nano temporal and spatial scales for aerospace applications. Further interests include various initiation sources such as optical laser pulses or shock loading of these materials. He was awarded a 2022 NDSEG
fellowship for research into energetic materials. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the
Materials Science and Engineering department at the University of Connecticut under Dr. Volkan Ortalan.

mason.freund@uconn.edu

K. M. Abu Hurayra Lizu

Hi, I am Hurayra. I am an international student from Bangladesh, currently pursuing my doctoral degree at UConn MSE. I have a B.Sc. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, so you can say I am in a long-term relationship with MSE. Right now, I am working in Prof. Bryan Huey’s AFM Lab, exploring nanoscale electronic and piezoelectric properties of materials. I am also serving as the Vice-President of the UConn MRS chapter. As a part of our amazing e-board, I have the unique opportunity to connect with fellow MSE students as well as faculties & share mutual experience about research and life. As a person, I am ambivert & love to spend my leisure time with books, movies, cooking or travelling. Ph.D. life can get quite hectic sometimes, so I try to release some of that stress by kicking and throwing punches at UConn Karate Club.

hurayralizu@uconn.edu

John Toribio

3rd year PhD Student, Polymer Division of the Chemistry Department

Education: BS in Physics and ACS-Certified Chemistry from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY (2020)

Research Interests: Synthesis and applications of bio-based polymers and electrically active polymers for wearable tech.

john.toribio@uconn.edu

Antigoni Konstantinou

3rd year PhD student, Institute of Materials Science (IMS) 

Education: MSc Polymer Science and Technology, University of Patras, Greece (2019), BS in Materials Science, University of Patras, Greece (2017)

Research Interests: Antigoni's work was focused on polymer nanocomposite materials, as smart systems at the master work. Studying the dielectric and thermomechanical properties of low filler content polymer composites in her master and bachelor thesis. Antigoni joined the University of Delaware as a Research Scholar in 2019-2020 and her research in Epps research group involved synthesis and thermal characterization of bio-based polymers. Antigoni came at UConn in 2021 and she is member of the Electric Insulation Research Center (EIRC) and her research interest is focused on the synthesis and the electrical characterization of nanostructured dielectric polymeric materials. She is also member of John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA). 

Hobbies: Volleyball, Knitting

antigoni.konstantinou@uconn.edu