Will Rears
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Advised by Christopher Kloxin
Interview submitted in Spring 2025.
CHARM Interviewer (CI): Where did you grow up and go to school for your undergraduate degree?
Will Rears (WR): I grew up in Millstone, NJ but attended the the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities for a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry.
CI: What got you interested in materials science?
WR: Definitely my innate curiosity. Growing up, I was that kid who was always asking questions. Whether I was asking my little league coach what would happen if it started raining ice cream or my high school chemistry teacher about his adventures as a chemical engineer, I was always eager to understand the world around me. Now, as a PhD candidate, chemical engineering and materials science not only provide answers but also inspire new questions.
CI: In technical language, what is the research you do here at CHARM?
WR: From design to characterization, my efforts focus on decorating coiled coil peptides, bundlemers, with click chemistry handles and ATRP initiation sites to enable tunable peptide-polymer conjugates.
CI: What is a skill you would like to build on while being a part of CHARM?
WR: Navigating collaborations. I love working with other students in my group and in CHARM on the diverse range of projects centered around the same goal. Currently, I’m working on learning how to balance multiple collaborations with my other graduate student responsibilities
CI: Tell us about your career goals and aspirations.
WR: Ideally, I see myself in an advising-centered role. I genuinely enjoy discussing and troubleshooting scientific problems with both peers and faculty. I also find inspiration in a wide range of research areas, often drawing from them to advance my own work. With that in mind, a career in academia is definitely a path I’m seriously considering.
CI: Are there any other student/campus organizationsyou belong to or volunteering opportunities you enjoy?
WR: My favorite volunteering experience has been holding science demonstrations for middle and high schoolers. I love the opportunity to foster and celebrate scientific curiosity and excitement since it reminds me of my own scientific journey.
CI: What do you enjoy doing on your downtime outside of the lab?
WR: My favorite grad school counterweights are baking, playing Magic the Gathering with my friends, and spoiling my two kittens, Mia and Beebo.
CI: What advice would you give to undergraduate students and first-year graduate students?
WR: To an undergraduate interested in grad school, do it out of passion. In grad school, you’re going to fail – sometimes a few times a week, sometimes for a few weeks. It’s through your passion in your research and science that can motivate you from failure to success. It sounds intimidating, but if you’re up to the challenge and follow your passion, grad school will exponentiate your self-growth and scientific maturity.
To a first-year grad student: give yourself grace and resist the urge to compare yourself to others. In grad school, everyone’s project, experience, and circumstances are unique. It’s easy to fall into the traps of imposter syndrome and self-doubt, especially when you’re surrounded by high achievers. Stay grounded—whether through community, hobbies, or moments of reflection. Learning how to navigate the lows is just as important, if not more so, than your research. Good luck—you’ve got this!