Research Interests

Working at the interface of polymer chemistry and materials science

Zak's research efforts have focused on synthesis and characterization of hydrophilic conjugated polymers, and their integration into organic photovoltaics, as well as the design of novel compounds for organic light emitting diodes, in-situ analysis of photochemical transformations, and 3D printing of  soft materials. Future research will be interdisciplinary in nature, including aspects of synthetic chemistry, materials science, and engineering and will expand upon knowledge gained during past research experiences. Tailored templating and photochemical approaches will be studied to generate well-defined soft materials and composites with interesting (opto)electronic and mechanical properties, with applications spanning bioelectronics, flexible electronics, and additive manufacturing.