Mary Danielson is a Research Assistant Professor with the University of Tennessee–Oak Ridge Innovation Institute’s Circular Bioeconomy Convergent Research Initiative. She is not only an independent researcher but also a dedicated collaborator and mentor actively welcoming both undergraduate and graduate students into her group.

Trained as a synthetic polymer chemist, Danielson brings a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of materials science and engineering to her work. Her research centers on designing next-generation polymers and polymeric materials with sustainability and circularity as guiding principles. Her lab’s approach is comprehensive—spanning wet-lab chemistry, small-molecule synthesis, materials characterization, and application development.

Current areas of focus include:

• Advanced recycling and recovery technologies
• Dynamic covalent and bio-derived chemistries
• Additive manufacturing of sustainable materials

Danielson’s long-term vision is to create polymers and plastics that are environmentally neutral and closed-loop recyclable.

Danielson received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis in 2023. She went on to conduct her postdoctoral research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before being appointed at the University of Tennessee as an Assistant Research Professor.

Education