Name: Roger Dias
Degree being sought: Polymer Science
Undergrad Degree & Institution: University of Southern Mississippi
Research group: Wiggins Research Group
Area of study: High Performance Materials
Hometown: Columbia, MS

Give a brief synopsis of research/work being done

The synthesis of controlled polyacryonitrile precursor for carbon fibers through RAFT polymerization.

From your current perspective, what do you see as an ideal fit for your skills, goals and career moving forward?

I have a passion for sports, so my ideal fit would definitely be working for a company like Nike or Adidas in a research lab making the next generation of high-quality sports equipment.

What USM-related scholarships did you receive?

Presidential Grant

Awards won

1^st place in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division at the 2017 Mississippi Academy of Sciences Symposium. Also made top 20% of all undergraduate posters presented.

What USM memory do you treasure the most?

Not too long ago, my classmates and I were having a study session late into the night for a test we had the next day. I left for a little while to go eat with my parents and came back around 10:00 pm. After I came in, several people were talking about how big of a morale boost I was, and that definitely is a memory I will treasure.

What are your plans for next year and beyond?

I’ll finish off my senior year of college, but beyond that nothing is very concrete. I’m definitely considering graduate school, but if the right opportunity comes along I may just go straight into industry.