University of Delaware master’s student Max Curello accepted a job offer from BASF following a summer internship in the company’s Industrial Formulations division. Curello, a research intern at the UD Center for Composite Materials, focused his work on emulsion polymerization for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers applications. His project evaluated how North American-produced surfactants affect customer chemical processes.
Through the assignment, Curello applied academic research to polymer chemistry, formulation and process development challenges. Industry partnerships like this connect academic research directly with advanced manufacturing workforce requirements. For corporate partners, collaborating with UD researchers creates a direct pipeline to engineering talent trained in practical application environments. Contact the Center for Composite Materials to explore industry internship and research partnership opportunities.