Professor Frank Leibfarth
Co-Project Leader, Chemistry
Education
- PhD, Chemistry, University of California Santa Barbara
- BA, Chemistry & Physics, University of South Dakota
Research Interests
Dr. Leibfarth’s research seeks to develop new methods for the synthesis of functional polymers with the goal of discovering and studying their emergent macromolecular behavior. The approach is rooted in the belief that the convergence of organic, continuous-flow and polymer chemistries holds the key to making materials smarter, more functional and more sustainable. Dr. Leibfarth works to remove PFAS from North Carolina’s water supply by creating a sorbent with chemical properties such as fluorophilicity and electrostatic interactions to selectively bind and remove PFAS from water. Dr. Leibfarth is an associate professor in the department of chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Fun Fact: Dr. Leibfarth was the kicker for the University of South Dakota’s football team!
