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Dr. Monica Tisack-Kathmann has been named Director of the Mississippi Polymer Institute, the industrial outreach service of The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymers and High Performance Materials.
The Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI) leverages resources within the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials in order to assist high-tech polymer and polymer-related industries. From electron microscopes and thermal analysis to tensile strength testing, MPI offers access to a wide range of scientific equipment and the expertise to support both existing polymer-related industries and entrepreneurs.
Having produced thousands of prototyped parts, MPI has a customer list that includes some of the most prestigious manufacturing companies in the world.
Tisack-Kathmann is no stranger to working with big name manufacturers. Upon earning her doctorate in Polymer Science from Southern Miss in 1997, Tisack-Kathmann began an 18-year career with DuPont. Recently, Tisack-Kathmann was the Chemours NafionTM North America Regional Business Manager in Fluoroproducts. The Chemours Company is a new, publicly traded company created from the DuPont Performance Chemicals businesses.
In her position with Chemours NafionTM, Tisack-Kathmann was responsible for increasing revenue, earnings, and customer satisfaction levels.
“We are excited to have such a well-trained individual with years of diverse experience in the advanced-material industry return to our area and lead the Mississippi Polymer Institute,” said Dr. Gordon Cannon, Vice-President for Research at Southern Miss.
Tisack-Kathmann’s career with DuPont included a range of responsibilities including competitive intelligence and strategic pricing, product and business development and management, safety training, and strategic planning.
Tisack-Kathmann considers the work of the MPI to be vital to the state’s industrial growth. “When you combine the world-renowned research capabilities of the USM polymer program with the commercial support capabilities of the MPI and other USM resources, we have every reason to believe that Mississippi and surrounding states can be a thriving hub for advanced-material businesses,” said Tisack-Kathmann.
“We have a great set of resources here. I want to make sure our region is one that not only creates world-class scientists, engineers, and employees, but also creates a business-support environment that attracts and keeps talented people and businesses locally,” she added.
The Mississippi Polymer Institute is located in The Garden, Southern Miss’ 521-acre innovation and commercialization park where the university’s cutting-edge research is transformed into valued products and services for the marketplace.
The MPI is housed in the Accelerator, a unique technology innovation center located within the Garden. The Accelerator is a 60,000 square feet full service facility that provides state-of-the art laboratories, and professional support to technology-based enterprises innovating, manufacturing and testing new products.
To learn more about the Mississippi Polymer Institute, call 601.266.4607 or visit: http://www.thepolymerinstitute.com/
