Miss. Nusrat Chowdhury

Ph.D Candidate

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

I am Nusrat Chowdhury, a 4th-year Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Science and Engineering at UIUC, specializing in the thermal transport of materials. My research focuses on enhancing the thermal properties of polymers by tailoring their molecular structures, crystallinity, and microstructures through advanced synthesis and mechanical processing techniques. Traditionally considered poor heat conductors, polymers have vast potential for improved performance when designed with targeted thermal conductivities and anisotropic characteristics, which are critical for flexible electronics, bio-inspired devices, and medical sensors. My work has established fundamental connections between molecular structure and thermal conductivity. For instance, my study on polyesters, recently accepted in Cell Reports Physical Science, demonstrates how aromatic monomers enhance conductivity while complex aliphatic and network polymers suppress crystallinity. I have a first-author publication in ACS Applied Polymer Materials reporting anisotropic thermal conductivity in Kapton films using time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and thermo-optic phase spectroscopy (TOPS). I developed a novel technique for measuring three-directional anisotropic thermal conductivity in that paper. I passed my Preliminary exam within 2 years on “Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity of Polymers”. For this work, I received the “MRS best poster presentation award 2025 for symposium- Thermal Transport in Materials”. I am collaborating with several other teams and researchers, as well as lab mates, on projects involving a wide spectrum of materials, including rubrene crystals (UMN), Germanium (Japan), and organic heat spreaders (colleague). Currently, I am developing novel liquid crystalline polyimides with high thermal conductivity, stability, and recyclability. Additionally, I am pioneering a high-throughput approach to study the impact of mechanical deformation on semicrystalline polymers. Alongside my research, I am advancing instrumentation by automating TOPS measurements with Python for high-temperature and spatially resolved thermal conductivity mapping. I am mentoring an MS student from the Computer Science department who needs to understand the material characterization process to make high-throughput measurement techniques. Beyond the lab, I served as logistics coordinator and Treasurer of GradSWE, mentored undergraduates through the Illinois Scholar Undergraduate Research Program (ISUR), and supported community initiatives as a Bangladeshi Student Association executive member. With a strong foundation in polymer synthesis, characterization, and leadership, my research aims to develop thermal management solutions that address critical challenges in energy-efficient technologies and sustainable applications.