Role of ROMP Based Comonomers in Innovating Polymers

Prof. Johnson is the A. Thomas Geurtin Professor of Chemistry and Associate Head of the Department of Chemistry at MIT. He conducted undergraduate research with Prof. Karen L. Wooley at Washington University in St. Louis, receiving a B.S. in biomedical engineering with a second major in chemistry. He received a PhD in chemistry from Columbia University, working with Prof. Nicholas J. Turro and Prof. Jeffrey T. Koberstein. In 2011, following a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship at the California Institute of Technology with Professors David A. Tirrell and Robert H. Grubbs, he began his independent career as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at MIT. He is currently a member of the MIT Program for Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM), the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, and the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard. He is the co-founder of Window Therapeutics Inc., Skylight Therapeutics Inc., and Elementium Materials Inc., all of which are based on technologies (co)developed in his laboratory at MIT. Prof. Johnson has received multiple awards, including recently the 2025 Carl S. Marvel Award for Creative Polymer Chemistry and, notably, the 2018 Nobel Laureate Signature Award. The Johnson Group invents methods and strategies for the synthesis of functional (macro)molecules that address fundamental scientific questions and contribute solutions to global challenges, including renewable energy storage, chemical sustainability, and human health.

Dr. Adam Raw is the Head of Materials Science R&D for the Chemistry business of Merck, leading teams in Nanomaterials, Energy Storage, Bioprinting and Drug Delivery. Since 2012 he has driven innovation in inorganic materials at Merck in roles including Product Management, Business Development, Technology Development and R&D. Dr. Raw received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University with a focus on solid-state synthesis of mixed anion compounds for energy generation and storage.

Shishir Agrahari is responsible for developing, growing, and managing the Biomedical Material portfolio at Merck. He focuses on launching next-generation biomaterials, including specialty polymers, for both research and industrial applications. Shishir actively collaborates with customers to address their specific needs and challenges in the field, driving innovation in biomedical materials. Shishir's academic research centered on Cancer Immunology, particularly in drug delivery systems. He brings over 12 years of experience in the Life Science industry, where he has led multiple academic and industrial collaborations, shaped regional strategies for product lines, and successfully managed portfolio growth while executing impactful product launches.