• Mia is an organic chemist who is eager to share the amazing ways that molecules impact our lives. She discovered chemistry as an undergraduate student at Carleton College, where she pursued research in inorganic chemistry. Mia completed her Ph.D. at Princeton University working with Professor Abigail Doyle; her work focused on developing new methods to forge carbon–carbon bonds using Nickel and exploring the ways emerging computational and data-drive techniques can accelerate research. Mia performed her postdoctoral work at UNC-Chapel Hill with Professor Frank Leibfarth, where she applied her love of organic chemistry to the world of polymers. At Trinity, Mia’s research bridges organic and polymer chemistry, with the aim of inventing more sustainable ways to make polymers.

    • Postdoc in Polymer Chemistry at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
    • Ph.D. & M.A. in Organic Chemistry at Princeton University
    • B.A. in Chemistry at Carleton College
    • Barber, V.J.; Borden, M.A.; Alty, J.W.; Tran, L.D.; Koerner, H.; Baldwin, L.A.; Alexanian, E.J.; Leibfarth, F.A. “Modifying Poly(caprolactone) Degradation through C–H Functionalization” Macromolecules, 2023, 56, 10, 3679–3686.
    • Sorensen, C.C.‡; Kozuszek, C.T.‡; Borden, M.A.; Leibfarth, F.A. “Asymmetric Ion-Pairing in Stereoselective Vinyl Polymerization” ACS Catalysis, 2023, 13, 5, 3272–3284.
    • Borden, M.A.; Leibfarth, F.A. “Disposable Diapers to Adhesives” Nat. Chem., 2021, 13, 930–932.
    • Lau, S.H.†; Borden, M.A.†; Steiman, T.J.‡; Wang, L.S.‡*; Parasram, M.P.; Doyle, A.G. “Ni/Photoredox-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Styrene Oxides with Aryl Iodides” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 38, 15873¬–15881

    †‡ Authors contributed equally
    * Undergraduate co-author

    • Photocatalysis
    • Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
    • Organometallics
    • Physical Organic Chemistry with a Computational Flavor

    The Borden Group seeks leverage the exquisite control of visible light to access polymers (plastics) in new, more sustainable ways. Our research will afford students the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary area and explore many types of chemistry including organic chemistry, polymers, and computational/data science techniques.

    • Organic Chemistry
    • 2022 Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Future Faculty Awardee
    • 2017 Pickering Teaching Award (Princeton University)