Bill Lenart
Research Scientist
Dr. Bill Lenart is a Research Scientist at the intersection of polymer and data science at the Roux Institute. Dr. Lenart is passionate about science and engineering in the service of humanity and is excited to be a part of the Roux’s mission to promote the economic and workforce development of Maine.
Prior to the Roux Institute, Dr. Lenart was a postdoctoral researcher at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago developing new types of energy dampening materials and next generation polymer processing methods. Before this position, Dr. Lenart was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science where his work involved developing reactive extrusion chemistries for plastic recycling and thin film metamaterials from block copolymers. Dr. Lenart received his PhD in Macromolecular Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering where his research included development of polyolefin nanofibers for separators and filters, using small-angle neutron scattering to study the sub-LCST behavior of star poly(N – isopropylacrylamide), and development of a resistive pulse sensing device to study the properties of soft nanoparticles such as phytoglycogen and Qbeta virus-like particles. Dr. Lenart received a BSE in Polymer Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
Outside of work, Dr. Lenart enjoys the outdoors and splitting time between the Lakes and Mountains region and beaches on the coast. Indoors, he enjoys exploring the Maine culinary scene and trying to recreate dishes at home with food sourced from the incredible local farms.
Research Overview
Dr. Lenart’s work focuses on using AI and ML learning to automate the design of materials and manufacturing processes and designing new materials from natural polymers. Dr. Lenart’s primary research areas are Industry 5.0, physics-informed machine learning, advanced manufacturing of sustainable materials and plastic alternatives, inline sensor development for polymer processing, reactive extrusion, light-driven manufacturing, electromagnetic active materials, mechanically interlocked polymers, and distributed manufacturing using 3D-printed microreactors. This work
emphasis using feedstocks from local resources available in Maine such as timber, seaweed, and aquaculture waste.
Areas of Expertise
- Structure-Property-Processing Relationships of Macromolecules
- Naturally-derived polymers from timber and seaweed
- Process Analytical Technology for Industry 4.0/5.0
Publications
- Hart, L.F.; Lenart, W.R.; Hertzog, J.E.; Oh, J.; Turner, W.R.; Dennis, J.M.; Rowan, S.J. “Doubly-Threaded Slide-Ring Polycatenane Networks” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 22, 12315-12323.
- Cote, B.; Lenart, W.R.; Ellison, C.; Ferry, V. “Surface Structure Dependent Circular Dichroism in Single and Double Gyroid Metamaterials.” Adv. Optical Materials. 2022, 10, 2200363.
- Lenart, W.R.; Kong, W.; Oltjen, W.C.; Hore, M.J.A. “Translocation of Soft Phytoglycogen Nanoparticles through Solid-State Nanochannels.” J. Mater. Chem. B. 2019, 7, 6428. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TB01048C
- Lang, X*.; Lenart, W.R*.; Sun, J.E.P.; Hammouda, B.; Hore, M.J.A. “Interaction and Conformation of Aqueous Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Star Polymers below the LCST.” Macromolecules, 2017, 50, 2145. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00068
- Lenart, W.R.; Jang, K.S.; Jordan, A.M.; Baer, E.; Korley, L.T.J. “Mechanically Tunable Dual-Component Polyolefin Fiber Mats via Two-Dimensional Multilayer Coextrusion.” Polymer, 2016, 103, 328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2016.09.060
- Read more on Google Scholar