Jon Weaver PhD Prize for Kam Poon

Recent DPhil graduate and former Trinity MCR president Kam Poon has been named the recipient of the 2025 Jon Weaver PhD Prize for the best PhD in polymer chemistry by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Macro Group. 

The award is given annually to a PhD student who has displayed an outstanding ability across a range of criteria throughout their PhD in the field of polymer science. 

Kam Poon received his DPhil in 2024 and was supervised during his DPhil by Professor Charlotte Williams. His thesis, Carbon Dioxide Utilisation: Unlocking Enhanced Properties for Oxygenated Polymers, explored the synthesis of novel oxygenated plastics and elastomers from CO₂ and bio-derived feedstocks, utilizing controlled polymerization techniques to design high-performance materials with tailored thermomechanical properties.

His research addressed a key challenge in sustainable polymer chemistry: how to design high-performance, recyclable materials from CO2-derived and bio-based monomers while maintaining competitive mechanical properties.

Through precise control over polymer microstructure, he demonstrated how non-covalent interactions—such as ionic crosslinks and hydrogen bonding—could be harnessed to significantly enhance the toughness and elasticity of these materials. This approach led to the development of recyclable thermosets with applications in soft robotics and additive manufacturing. 

Kam Poon says of winning the award: ‘I’m incredibly honoured to receive the Jon Weaver PhD Prize - it’s a real privilege to have my research recognised in this way. I’m deeply grateful to my supervisor Prof. Charlotte Williams, collaborators, Trinity College, and everyone at Oxford and beyond who supported and inspired me throughout my DPhil.’