Dr. Jeff Wiggins
Professor
Bio
Jeff Wiggins serves as Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi. His research interests include glassy polymer network science, renewable resource polymers, carbon fiber precursor polymers, polymer MD simulation, continuous polymerization reactors, and soldier/athlete protection polymers. Dr. Wiggins received a B.Sc. in Industrial Technology from Western Washington University in 1988, a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1992, and an Executive MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996. He spent 12 years in industry at Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA and Nike Inc., Beaverton, OR where he held several management positions in the areas of polymer research, product development, polymer engineering, and polymer manufacturing.
- International Business (MBA) - University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (1996)
- PHD - University of Southern Mississippi (1992)
- Plastics Technology (BS) - Western Washington University (1988)
PSE 898 “Dissertation in Polymer Science” taught at USM continuously Fall, Spring and Summer semesters since Fall 2009. Variable credit hours, graduate level course; this course is the final written and oral prerequisites for the Ph.D. degree in Polymer Science and Engineering
PSE 820 “Advanced Polymer Composites” Developed course and taught at USM Fall 2008 and 2011. 3 credit hours, graduate level course; advanced polymer science and engineering course which includes a comprehensive review of polymer composite glassy network matrix chemistry, fiber-matrix interfaces and composite structural mechanics.
PSE 820 Laboratory “Advanced Polymer Composites Laboratory” Developed and taught at USM Fall 2008 and 2011. 2 credit hours, graduate level course; This laboratory is a co-requisite for PSC 820 Advanced Polymer Composites and includes composite product design, composite tooling design, tooling and part construction and fabrication sciences.
PSE 791 “Research in Polymer Science” taught at USM continuously Fall, Spring and Summer semesters since Fall 2008. Variable credit hours, graduate level course; this research course is graduate level research for the Ph.D. program in Polymer Science and Engineering.
PSE 789 “Polymer Seminar” Fall and Spring 2013 (Fall only), 2014, 2015, 2016 1 credit hour, graduate course; this course and course provides mastery of scientific speaking through you basic knowledge of current research topics in Polymer Science and related fields as well as public presentation and question strategies
PSE 775 “Composites Fabrication” Developed and taught at USM Spring 2012 3 credit hours. Hand Lay-Up / Open Mold Fabrication; Spray Lay-Up; Vacuum Bag Molding; Molding Compounds (SMC/BMC); Filament Winding; Resin Transfer Molding (RTM); Vacuum Assist Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM); Resin Infusion and SCRIMP; Fiber Placement Techniques; Pultrusion; Thermoplastic Composites Processing; Autoclave Processing; Composites Process Control; Composites Quality Assurance
PSE 755 “Composites Design” Developed and taught at USM Summer 2011 3 credit hours. Design of a Composite Structure; Sandwich Structures Design; Honeycomb; Repair of Laminated Facings; Unidirectional Layers and Fabrics; Ply Orientation; Damage within Composite Structures; Attachment Design; Draft Angle Design; Plug Design; Tooling Design; Marine Application Design; Aerospace Application Design; Bending and Vibration
PSE 750 “Composite Materials” Developed and taught at USM Spring 2011, 2013, 2015 3 credit hours. General Characteristics and applications for composites; Glass Fibers; Carbon Fibers; Kevlar Fibers; Polyethylene Fibers; Polyester Matrices; Epoxy Matrices; Polyimide Matrices; Phenolic Matrices; Thermoplastic Matrices; Sizing and fiber surface treatments; Prepregs; Molding compounds; Fiber content, density and void content
PSE 691 “Research in Polymer Science” taught at USM continuously Fall, Spring and Summer semesters since Fall 2006. Variable credit hours, graduate level course; this research course is graduate level research for the M.Sc. program in Polymer Science and Engineering.
PSE 490 / PSE 491 “Polymer Eng Design” Fall and Spring 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 3 credit hours each. These courses are the initial Polymer Science and Engineering senior capstone taught at the University of Southern Mississippi. Therefore it served to set the groundwork for our engineering curriculum, and to coalesce the science and engineering curricula taught during the PSE program for solving an independent engineering research problem.
PSE 490 Lab / PSE 491 Lab “Polymer Eng Design Lab” Fall and Spring 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 1 credit hour each. The goal of the Engineering Design Lab is to introduce students to engineering through a combination of lecture discussions and laboratory exercises. Student groups are tasked with formulating a design solution to an open-ended engineering problem of their choosing. Students are responsible for evaluating existing solutions, developing design constraints, and designing/implementing an engineering design solution.
PSE 420 “Polymer Matrix Composites” 2016, 2017 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. 4 credit hours, senior level polymer science and engineering course; The course will teaches composite engineering principles included in nano and fiber reinforced composite materials, design and manufacturing, with a focus on reinforcement - polymer interactions in a variety of composite structures
PSE 361 “Polymer Processing” Spring 2006 and 2007. 3 credit hours, junior level course; this course is an introduction to the theory of polymer processing and considers the fundamental science of extrusion engineering, injection molding engineering and twin-screw compounding engineering.
PSC 361 Lab “Polymer Processing Laboratory” Spring 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018, 2019, 2 credit hours, junior level course; this course is a co-requisite for PSE 361 and is an introduction to practical polymer processing including extrusion, reaction extrusion, injection molding and design of experimentation.
PSE 361"Polymer Process Engineering" 2021 replaces PSC 361 and PSC361 lab into a 4 credit combined polymer process engineering theory/lab course which teaches engineering skills in material selection, design, scale-up, prototyping, additive manufacturing, tooling, polymer processing including extrusion, reaction extrusion, injection molding and design of experimentation.
PSC 301 “Polymer Organic Chemistry – Fall 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 3 credit hours, junior level course; this course is an introduction to the principles of polymer organic chemistry and considers the fundamentals of condensation reactions, ring-opening polymerizations and cross-linking chemistries.
HON 301 “Prospectus Writing” Developed course and taught at USM Spring 2013 3 credit hours, junior level honors course; Introductory research methods for Honors students; writing intensive course; development of research prospectus for Honors College
- Synthesis and Fabrication of Completely Absorbable Composites for Biomaterials, Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 1990
- Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering
- American Chemical Society
- Society of Plastics Engineers
- English (Native or Bilingual)
- German (Professional Working)