Dr. Mark Soucek is the interim director of the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and the Sundar L. Aggarwal Endowed Professor of polymer engineering. His research group focuses on creating new environmentally benign coatings. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Soucek about his career at The University of Akron’s School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (SPSPE). Read more about his life and career below.
Tell us something about yourself.
My post-doctoral experience at NASA (1990-93) was my first exposure to polymers. This led to my first job in academia as an assistant professor in the polymers and coatings department at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
What were the driving factors in your decision to join the The University of Akron?
After eight years in Fargo, I was ready for a change and a position was open in the then Department of Polymer Engineering. Although I did not get the position I interviewed for, the president of the University created another position for me on the pretext of needing a paint/coatings expert. Since Fargo was very cold, and Akron was closer to most of the paint and coating industry, I decided to take the position.
What’s your teaching philosophy or your outlook on higher education?
My teaching philosophy is pretty succinct. It does not matter when a student learns the material, as long as they master it by the end of the class. This means that rewriting exams, rewriting homework, and extra-credit helps the students who need more help in learning the material without having their final grade suffer. I meet students where they are and give them the tools they need to succeed.
What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not teaching?
Fishing and ballroom dancing are my hobbies. Some of my students posted a video of me dancing during a class break once.
What do you love most about your job?
Over the years, the support that the University has given us in the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (SPSPE) has been excellent. The best example is when I was a panel member (representing UA) at a National Academy of Science forum on corrosion education. I started to choke as it was my turn to speak. The current president of UA jumped up, got me a glass of water, and delivered it to me in the front of several hundred people at the front table where I was ready to speak into the microphone. The other academics where amazed at the sight of a university president being so supportive of their faculty.
What are your goals for SPSPE?
I want to create a space where researchers can become the best in the world in their area of polymer science or polymer engineering.
What is one thing that you hope each of your students learns from you?
For my graduate students, I would like for them to be leaders in the paint and coatings industry. I want them to apply the expertise to make paint more sustainable. We recently launched an undergraduate degree program, and my hope is that our undergrads make science and engineering a lifelong pursuit.