Contact Information
trimmell@illinois.edu
(217) 244-1646
University of Illinois
1327A Beckman Institute, MC-251
405 North Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Research Areas
Biography
I received my B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1984 and Ph.D. in Materials Science in 1989 from the University of Illinois. Thereafter, I was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Caltech and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan before joining the faculty in 1993. I served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society from 1999-2013. I am a member of the Beckman Institute.
Research Interests
Current research focuses on polymer mechanochemistry; light-weight, high-strength organic materials; morphogenic manufacturing; self-healing polymers as part of the Autonomic Materials Systems group at the Beckman Institute.
Research Description
The Moore group is dedicated to the professional development of next-generation scientists and educators who will impact the world with their skills and knowledge. The group’s research integrates ideas from physical organic chemistry and engineering with polymer synthesis to invent mechanically responsive materials. Motivated by the technological need for materials that are safer and last longer, experiments are designed to understand the fundamental science of mechanochemical transduction, which in turn helps in the design of polymers that produce chemical signals or undergo chemical reactions following mechanical activation. Specific examples include materials that heal themselves, warn of high stress, or repair electrical circuits.
New Polymeric Materials
Compartmentalization and On-demand Release
Functional Membranes for Water Purification
Molecular Modulators for Controlled Growth of Fibrillar Networks
Touch-and-Go Reactions
Self-Healing Polymers
Mechanochemistry
Shock wave energy dissipation (SWED) by Mechanochemically Active Materials
Autonomically adaptive materials
Mechanoacids
Energy Storage Materials
The Role of Macromolecular Architecture on Redox Active Molecules
Education
I'm currently interested in developing course-based research experiences for undergraduates and making molecular science accessible to the general public.
Awards and Honors
Stanley O. Ikenberry Endowed Chair
Stephanie L. Kwolek Award, Royal Society of Chemistry
Member, National Academy of Sciences
Edward Leete Award, American Chemical Society
Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Fellow, American Chemical Society
Fellow, Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE)
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
UIUC Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
LAS Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Additional Campus Affiliations
CAS Professor, Center for Advanced Study
Professor, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Professor, Materials Research Lab
Professor, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Affiliate, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Honors & Awards
Stanley O. Ikenberry Endowed Chair
Stephanie L. Kwolek Award, Royal Society of Chemistry
Member, National Academy of Sciences
Edward Leete Award, American Chemical Society
Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Fellow, American Chemical Society
Fellow, Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE)
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
UIUC Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
LAS Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Recent Publications
Hmeidat, N. S., Zakoworotny, M., Kim, Y. S., Le, T. B., DeBrun, G., Shah, R., Lessard, J. J., Moore, J. S., Baur, J. W., Geubelle, P. H., Sottos, N. R., & Tawfick, S. H. (2025). Reactive extrusion of frontally polymerizing continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 190, Article 108609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2024.108609
Bistri, D., Arretche, I., Lessard, J. J., Zakoworotny, M., Vyas, S., Rongy, L., Gómez-Bombarelli, R., Moore, J. S., & Geubelle, P. (2024). A Mechanism-Based Reaction-Diffusion Model for Accelerated Discovery of Thermoset Resins Frontally Polymerized by Olefin Metathesis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146(31), 21877-21888. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c06527
Cooper, J. C., Paul, J. E., Ramlawi, N., Saengow, C., Sharma, A., Suslick, B. A., Ewoldt, R. H., Sottos, N. R., & Moore, J. S. (2024). Reprocessability in Engineering Thermosets Achieved through Frontal Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization. Advanced Materials, 36(28), Article 2402627. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202402627
Kalutantirige, F. C., He, J., Yao, L., Cotty, S., Zhou, S., Smith, J. W., Tajkhorshid, E., Schroeder, C. M., Moore, J. S., An, H., Su, X., Li, Y., & Chen, Q. (2024). Beyond nothingness in the formation and functional relevance of voids in polymer films. Nature communications, 15(1), Article 2852. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46584-2
Lee, Y. B., Suslick, B. A., de Jong, D., Wilson, G. O., Moore, J. S., Sottos, N. R., & Braun, P. V. (2024). A Self-Healing System for Polydicyclopentadiene Thermosets. Advanced Materials, 36(11), Article 2309662. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202309662