Stephanie Harris

I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Natural Resources Science Management at the University of Minnesota. My career interests are focused on research and development of innovative sustainable, environmentally friendly plastics. My research interests include biomass products, plant-based materials, compostable and biodegradable plastics, renewable resources, sustainability, and product development and management. I currently research the synthesis of novel bio-based, biodegradable copolymers of polylactide and lignin with a focus on improving moisture barrier and tensile properties. I am interested in contributing to sustainable solutions for some of the problems that modern plastics have created, such as the growing islands of plastics in our oceans, the detriments of plastics that do not degrade to wildlife, and the toxicity of plastics to people and animals. I feel very strongly that we need to come up with solutions so we don’t leave these problems for the expense of future generations.