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PlasticsToday has named Western Washington University a top 10 school for polymer materials engineering.

Western was selected for its state-of-the-art laboratories, direct collaboration and internship opportunities with industry partners, specialized coursework, experienced faculty members and industry-ready graduates. 

Students enrolled in ��������’s Polymer Materials Engineering program study the relationship between molecular structure, processing, and properties of polymers and composites through a technical curriculum of materials science, chemistry, physics and mathematics and practical experiences that include design, materials, processing, testing and analysis.

Sustainability plays a major role in students learning in the PME program, with 75 percent of last year’s senior projects and 85 percent of this year’s design projects directly related to plastics and composites recycling, recyclable materials characterization method development and product design using recycled and sustainably-sourced materials.

“The future of our planet depends on engineers and scientists developing solutions to climate change and sustainability,” Program Director and Associate Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering John Misasi said. “Likewise, plastics are a major contributor to waste. That being said, our students are learning to be part of the solution, not the problem. Every industry-sponsored senior capstone project this year has a focus on reducing material waste, developing biobased materials or sustainable manufacturing. We want to make sure all of our students graduate with the skills necessary to lead regional and national companies towards their sustainability goals.”

Misasi said that the program tends to “punch above its weight” when it comes to undergraduate research opportunities with industry-sponsored projects. 

Engineering and Design Chair Sura Al-Qudah said these industry opportunities not only enrich students’ academic journeys but also equip them to make meaningful contributions in their fields. 

“As widely recognized in literature, engaging in undergraduate research builds critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills — competencies that are essential for success in graduate studies, industry careers, startups or any path our students choose to pursue,” she said. “By fostering a culture of inquiry and hands-on learning, the PME program continues to shine as an example of how undergraduate education can be truly transformative and empowering.”

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Mikayla King (‘17) covers the College of Science and Engineering and Woodring College of Education for University Communications. Reach out to her with story ideas at kingm24@wwu.edu.