CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Open August 22 – October 31, 2025
IGS GeboJagema and SPE Medical Plastics Division are proud to announce a Student Scholarship in the topic of Molding of Medical Plastics and Polymers. The $4,000 award is co-sponsored by IGS and SPE MPD and is expected to be provided to students in the 2026 calendar year. $4,000 is to be paid in cash to the student following the Terms and Conditions section below.
Requirements for Applicants:
Undergraduate student enrolled in a U.S.-based university or college, in an accredited engineering or science major.
Examples of appropriate majors: Plastics Engineering, Plastics Technology, Mechanical Engineering with focus on Plastics and/or Plastics Mold Development, or Materials Engineering with focus on Plastics.
Completion of submission form on SPE MPD website, to include:
Your academic background, current career plans, and description of interest in medical plastics or polymers.Verification as a current member of SPE. It is free for students to join at Membership Application | SPE (4spe.org).
Approval for SPE MPD to verify your enrollment at your noted university or college.
Pre-award interview: Commitment to attend (virtually) one 30-minute conference call between October 31 and December 31, 2025. The purpose of this call is to interview potential candidates for the award.
Post-award interview: Commitment to attend (virtually) one 30-minute conference call between January 1 and January 30, 2026. The purpose of this call is to provide notification of the selection, discuss the awardee’s plans, and record the meeting for publicity purposes.
Slots for additional conference calls will be available to the selected student to meet with IGS and SPE MPD representatives, based on the interest of the student, but are not required.
Deadline for submission is October 31, 2025. Scholarship is expected to be selected by December 31, 2025.
Terms and Conditions of Cash Stipend:
Total value not to exceed 4,000 U.S. Dollars.
Award may be split into increments following successful completion of requirements and award selection noted above. After selection, the full value is expected to be disbursed on or before June 30, 2026.
This announcement is not a commitment to award this scholarship. IGS GeboJagema and SPE Medical Plastics Division retain the right to withhold this funding if no suitable candidate is selected.
Scholarship funds may be partially or fully withheld from the awarded candidate if not all Requirements above are fulfilled.
Upon the candidate’s preference, funds from the award may be used to support travel to the MD&M West Expo & SPE MPD MiniTec conference in Anaheim, CA, in February 2026. Any funds used for this purpose will replace an equal portion of the cash stipend.
If you are interested in submitting an application, please submit your application at:
Joanne Moody, a dedicated member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), recently visited the summer research program led by the Chemistry Department at Hamline University. The visit highlighted the department’s commitment to hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing scientific knowledge through student-faculty partnerships.
During her time on campus, Moody had the opportunity to meet with a dynamic team of undergraduate students and faculty members who are actively engaged in a variety of research projects.
Faculty leading these initiatives include:
Dr. Nick Schlotter, the chemistry department chair at Hamline University with expertise in Nanotechnology, Materials Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.
Francesca Ippoliti, a professor that specializes in small molecule synthesis.
Urvashi Sanhir teaches chemistry at Hamline, researches PFAS degradation and plasma chemistry, mentors undergraduates, and leads outreach through HIPAL and ACS Women Chemists.
Professor, John Matachek, specializes in organometallic and conductive polymers.
Moody’s visit underscored the value of fostering connections between professional organizations like SPE and academic institutions.
We are saddened to share that Glenn Beall, a revered and beloved figure in the plastics industry, passed away on July 24th. Glenn was more than an engineer, inventor, educator, and entrepreneur—he was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to generations of plastics professionals. His legacy spans over six decades and touches every corner of our field.
After earning his engineering degree from Bradley University in 1957, Glenn began his career at Abbott Laboratories, where his innovative work in drug delivery systems earned him 12 patents. His passion for design and materials led him to found Glenn Beall Engineering, Inc. and later Glenn Beall Plastics, Ltd., adding 23 more patents to his name and influencing product design for decades to come.
Glenn had an unmatched gift for teaching. Through more than 650 seminars, he shared his deep knowledge with nearly 30,000 professionals, helping countless individuals grow in their careers. His seminars weren’t just technical—they were inspiring, practical, and filled with stories that made complex ideas feel approachable.
A lifelong and deeply engaged member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), Glenn held numerous leadership roles and played a significant role in shaping the organization’s mission, including the founding of the Medical Plastics Division in 1982. We were honored to celebrate his career at the 2024 Glenn Beall Symposium at ANTEC®, where he spoke and inspired us once again.
His fingerprints are everywhere—from the Plastics Design Forum to the advancement of rotational molding, from SPE leadership to preserving our industry’s history through the Plastics Pioneers Association and the Syracuse University Plastics Collection.
We have fond memories of Glenn—not just as a giant in our field, but as a generous, kind, and thoughtful human being. His legacy of innovation and mentorship will continue to guide us for years to come.
To make a donation in Glenn’s memory to the Patsy and Glenn Beall scholarship. Link here
6:00 Welcome / Introductions / Review Session Format
6:05 Introduce our featured speaker, Will Boston Morris
6:30 Begin Q&A & continue “Happy Hour” discussion
7:00 Wrap up and Thanks to all for participating, especially Will aka “Boston”!
Abstract: The development of immiscible polymer-polymer composites that unify disparate material properties into a single bulk material has long been hindered by challenges in stabilizing incompatible polymer domains against macrophase separation while achieving sufficient interfacial adhesion for efficient mechanical load transfer. This work introduces a new class of polymer-polymer composites designed to address these challenges based on forming composites between styrenic block copolymer (SBC) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) containing immiscible copolymer midblocks with distinct material properties.
Leveraging the inherent microphase separation behavior of ABA block copolymer systems, which are widely used in TPEs to generate reversible physical crosslinking, this work establishes a simple, scalable, and tunable method for fabricating tough, durable, and intrinsically lubricious hydrogel–elastomer composites. By combining TPE materials that share common vitreous polystyrene end blocks, each component forms its own phase-separated elastomeric network while simultaneously experiencing enhanced interfacial adhesion. Continuous vitreous polystyrene domains formed at the component interfaces stabilize the blend morphology and enable mechanical load transfer between phases. Adjusting the compositional ratios and specific TPEs selected, allows this composite platform to be tailored to meet a diverse range of performance specifications pertinent in medical devices, soft electronics, and membrane technologies.
The thermoplastic hydrogel–elastomer composites developed in this work specifically address the persistent need for intrinsically lubricious, low-friction elastomers and silicones. Traditional elastomers, while flexible and durable, often suffer from tacky surfaces that require secondary lubricious treatments for medical device applications. Conversely, hydrogels offer excellent lubricity and poroelastic relaxation but typically lack scalable methods for introducing the needed mechanical strength and toughness. By integrating an SBC thermoplastic hydrogel phase into commercial SBC TPEs, this work demonstrates the creation of versatile hydrogel composites featuring hydrophilic lubricious surfaces and outstanding mechanical durability while remaining thermally processable using standard processing techniques such as injection molding and extrusion.
Bio: Dr. William Boston Morris recently completed his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Colorado State University following a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering. His doctoral research developed thermoplastic elastomer-hydrogel composites, a promising new medical plastic designed to provide hydrophilic low-friction intrinsically to styrenic TPEs, such as SEBS, for medical devices like catheters and soft tissue mimics. William has experience working with Gelastomerics, a startup commercializing this technology, and managed a materials testing lab at CSU, where he trained and mentored students. He is currently seeking industry opportunities to apply his materials science expertise.
Are you working on a project related to medical polymer science, polymer engineering, or medical innovation?
We invite you to share your research with industry leaders by participating in the SPE Poster Session at our upcoming industry event! We welcome students from the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area to present their posters at this special event, to be held in person on October 21, 2025 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
This is a fantastic opportunity to:
Present your work to academics and professionals
Gain visibility and recognition within the medical polymer and medical device community
Build your network and explore career opportunities
We are pleased to offer complimentary registration and a monetary stipend to students presenting posters, to support their participation. We encourage two presenters per poster, and both co-authors should be included in the online input form. A Best Poster Award will be presented. Poster size should be 3’ x 4’.
Submit your poster abstract today and take part in one of the most exciting technical showcases for emerging talent.
“I enjoyed attending and presenting at the MiniTec 2024 Midwest Conference, which was inspiring and provided valuable opportunities for industry networking . Two of my students also participated in the poster session, where they showcased their research and received meaningful feedback and industry connections. I strongly recommend this conference and will once again be supporting student poster presentations.” – Chun Wang, Biomedical Engineering at University of Minnesota
“I thoroughly enjoyed attending the MiniTec 2024 Midwest Conference, which truly serves as a bridge between academia and industry. The conference provided an excellent platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring emerging trends in the field. One of my research students, Mirnesa Delic, presented our work through a poster on the synthesis of a biohydrogel using Atmospheric Pressure Plasma technology. She was highly engaged with attendees, gaining valuable insights, constructive feedback, and meaningful connections that will significantly benefit her academic and professional growth.
Beyond our presentation, I attended several cutting-edge sessions that deepened my understanding of emerging techniques, innovative methodologies, and collaborative opportunities. These insights will directly enhance my teaching at Hamline University and further advance the research conducted in the Hamline Plasma Laboratory.” – Urvashi Sandhir, Chemistry Department at Hamline University
Topics include the following:
1. Advanced Medical Polymers
Smart, self-healing, bioinspired, and antimicrobial medical plastics
Material biocompatibility
Materials & technologies critical for next generation medicines & therapeutic delivery systems
2. Next-Generation Medical Devices & Therapeutic Delivery
Next generation medical devices and therapeutic delivery systems
Personalization in materials, manufacturing, devices, and measurements
Development of hybrid devices to reduce single-use plastic waste and OEM end-of-life responsibilities
3. Manufacturing Innovations & Process Control
Additive manufacturing in medical devices (3D and “4D” printing)
Innovations in polymer processing and device manufacturing
AI and machine learning-driven tools for medical plastics manufacturing
4. Regulatory Compliance & Testing
Testing and validation of medical plastics (evolving standards and regulations: ISO 10993 updates, MDR, PFAS)
Interactions between medical plastics and sterilization methods (e.g., ethylene oxide limitations)
5. Sustainability & Lifecycle Considerations
Sustainability in healthcare materials and manufacturing
Design considerations for balancing safety, convenience, and lifecycle impact
If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. We’re here to support your success!
Medical Polymers Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities
ANNUAL CALL FOR SPEAKERS
DEADLINE September 15, 2025
SPE’s Medical Plastics Division (MPD) is currently seeking submission of titles and abstracts for technical presentations for its 2025-2026 conference programing. Presentations are eligible for acceptance at one of the following technical sessions:
Submit proposed title & abstract by September 15, 2025. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will receive an email from the MPD Technical Programming Committee.
Accepted topics: submit a high resolution color headshot – 2 weeks after acceptance as speaker.
Submit your PowerPoint presentation for committee review no later than:
MD&M Minneapolis MiniTec – Minneapolis, MN | September 1, 2025
MD&M West MiniTec – Anaheim, CA | November 1, 2025
SPE ANTEC® | December 1, 2026
Participants will attend the on-site event
Consent to conference partner speaker agreement and distribution of a PDF version of your presentation to conference attendees
Wrapping up another successful year at the SPE MPD MiniTec Conference in Minneapolis during MD&M MidWest!
It was fantastic to reconnect with colleagues and see so many new and familiar faces. Here are some of the highlights from our one-day event:
Conference Highlights
Our special keynote featuring Dr. Art Erdman, Founding Director of the Bakken Medical Devices Center, set the tone with a thought-provoking presentation.
Speakers included:
Rob Klein, AtriCure Inc.
Chun Wang, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
Wei Shen, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
Chris Konitzer, Avient Corp.
Patrick Haney, MTD Micro Molding
Shrubs Manna, Foster Corp.
Louis Somlai, Eli Lilly
Chris Ellison, University of Minnesota, IPPRIME
Wei Zheng, University of Wisconsin–Stout, Plastics Engineering
Len Czuba, Czuba Enterprises
Paul Briant, Exponent
Kimberly Chaffin, Medtronic
Chris Lyons, Exponent
This event featured presentations on innovations in materials, biopolymers, diagnostics, device-enabling polymers, drug delivery, design, manufacturing, 3D printing, testing, sterilization, and sustainability. Speakers included both academic and industry leaders in the medical devices industry. We also held a successful student poster session. The top-ranked student poster award went to Marcus Flowers, UMN Biomedical Engineering.
Poster Session and Networking:
The full-day conference was followed by a popular networking reception. MD&M Midwest brings together key players and industry experts who focus on the challenges and innovations shaping the industry.
Special Thanks
A special thank you to the team that made all this possible: Rob Klein, Chris Lyons, Len Czuba, Ron Dugas, Joanne Moody, and many others behind the scenes.
We’re proud to be part of MD&M Midwest, where collaboration drives the next wave of innovation in medical plastics. See you next year!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to this year’s MiniTec sponsors.
Their sponsorship enabled us to bring together professionals, students, and thought leaders from across the medical polymer community for a day of knowledge sharing, technical insights, and meaningful connections. Their partnership is instrumental in advancing our mission to serve as the leading platform for scientific and engineering exchange in the medical polymer field.
