Our Story
Launched in 2021, PolyGone began as a research component of Nathaniel Banks & Yidian Liu’s joint Architectural thesis at Princeton University. As part of their research, the pair analyzed the dysfunctional plastic recycling industry and were shocked to learn about the millions of tons of plastic that leaches into the world's oceans each year. Their thesis research ultimately proposed the development of novel infrastructure for the collection and recycling of aquatic plastic waste.
In particular, the pair noted a worrying lack of infrastructure and protocols for removing microplastics from aquatic environments. They decided to focus on developing new technologies for the entrapment and upcycling of microplastic pollutants to establish a circular plastic economy. Our team's first prototype technology aims to be the world's first portable, affordable, and low-maintenance microplastic collection device.
Much of PolyGone’s current team shares roots in Princeton University, but come from varied professional backgrounds and passions. PolyGone closely collaborates with non-profit organizations in the tri-state area and believes assembling a diverse team is vital to addressing environmental degradation and injustice.
Current Team
Yidian Liu is Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer (COO) of PolyGone. She holds a Bachelors in Architecture from Syracuse University and a Masters in Architecture from Princeton University. Yidian has extensive experience designing for internationally-renowned design and landscaping companies including Aedas, Vector Architects, and Lola Landscape Design. Her research and design focuses on the development of novel sustainable infrastructure. Her Princeton architectural research centered on waste recycling facilities, panarchies of waste management, and aquatic plastic infrastructural systems. Yidian has collaborated extensively with Nathaniel Banks on several award winning research and design projects, including the 2018 James A Britton faculty-favorite thesis Award, the Skyhive 2018 Skyscraper Design honorable mention, and the 2021 Terraviva Living Museum Honorable Mention.
Yidian Liu
Co-Founder
Nathaniel Banks is Co-Founder and prototype development lead for PolyGone. He holds a Bachelors in Architecture from Syracuse University, a diploma in Urban Geography from UCL, and a Masters in Architecture from Princeton University. Outside of academia, Nathaniel has worked for some of the world’s top design practices including David Chipperfield Architects, Zaha Hadid Architects and Grant Associates, where his projects ranged from digital conceptualization to construction and fabrication. Independently, Nathaniel has also fabricated several products including an award winning computer case design in 2016, and the design and operation of a fast food pop up business in 2020. Nathaniel has collaborated extensively with Yidian Liu on several award winning research and design projects, including the 2018 James A Britton faculty-favorite thesis Award, the Skyhive 2018 Skyscraper Design honorable mention, and the 2021 Terraviva Living Museum Honorable Mention.
Nathaniel Banks
Co-Founder
Xuelan Wu is a PhD candidate from the Chemistry department at Princeton University with several high-profile first author publications in molecular biology and biophysics. Her past training in analytical chemistry makes her an expert at separation and identification techniques for solution mixtures and developing novel media separation protocols. At PolyGone, Xuelan oversees all lab and field experiment design and develops and tests protocols for the collection and separation of microplastic sediments.
Xuelan Wu
Research Lead
Joan Kao
Design Director
Mariko is a sophomore at Princeton University, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace engineering and minoring in Robotics and Intelligent Systems and Applications of Computing. Her interests in mechanical design and sustainable technology, combined with her experience from past microplastic-related projects, drew her to the PolyGone team. She currently focuses on developing mechanical and experimental designs, as well as optimizing microplastic quantification methods.
Mariko Storey-Matsutani
Research Fellow
Yueyu Yao serves as the Lead Scientist at PolyGone, where she spearheads efforts to optimize water sample analysis protocols and leads innovative research on enhancing filter design. She holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Smith College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University. During her graduate research, she pioneered green synthesis routes for semiconductor quantum dots, a notable achievement that highlights her commitment to sustainable scientific advancements. With a strong interdisciplinary background at the intersection of chemical biology and material science, she continues to contribute to innovative solutions in environmental technologies.
Yueyu Yao
Lead Scientist
Zhe Liu is a PhD candidate in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) department at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on programming and patterning active materials such as liquid crystal elastomers. At PolyGone, Zhe develops and refines protocols for the characterization of microplastic sediments and addresses engineering challenges associated with microplastics capture.
Zhe Liu
Lead Scientist
Ariel holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Princeton University. During her time there, she gained experience in bio-inspired and soft robotics, with additional work in machine learning, swarm robotics, and neuroscience. Her interdisciplinary background, coupled with her interest in marine and freshwater environments, led her to join Polygone, where she is working to develop electrical and mechanical solutions to aid in microplastics collection.
Ariel Blumenberg
Electrical Engineering Intern
Julian Rosenfeld is a sophomore at Princeton University majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). He is planning on fulfilling the certificate programs in Materials Science and Sustainability, and he is looking to getting involved in their intersections with Mechanical Engineering. In his free time, he enjoys playing violin and soccer, and he is an avid Phillies fan.
Julian Rosenfeld
Research Intern
Shirin Sood is a senior in high school and hopes to pursue engineering in college. Shirin founded a plastics organization which focuses on policy and education, and she is a committee lead for the NJ Sierra Club. She has done research on PM2.5 air quality sensors and met with leaders to advocate for more equitable climate solutions. Shirin’s interests in sensors and microplastics led to Polygone and she is excited to be joining as a Media Intern.
Shirin Sood
Media Intern
Zachary is a junior at the University of Maryland, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics and Computer Science. He is involved in the Maryland Robotics Center’s swarm robotics Motion & Teaming Lab and is part of a multidisciplinary, four-year research team with the Gemstone program, designing a more accurate filter for correcting color blindness. His interest in the fields of robotics and accessible technology, which share common issues in sustainability and the reuse of technology, led him to Polygone, where he is joining as an Electrical Engineering Research Intern.
Zachary Friedman-Hill
Research Intern
Alumni
Junaid Amin is an Associate Research Scholar at Princeton University where he is developing new optical microscopy techniques for high speed and high resolution biological imaging. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University from 2017 to 2021 working on the same topic. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering where he developed new optical imaging and sensing technologies. He has published 11 peer-reviewed journal articles as well as 9 conference proceedings. At PolyGone, he contributed to research and design.
Junaid Amin
Research Advisor
Leila is a senior at Princeton University, majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a certificate in Sustainable Energy. Leila is passionate about using environmental diplomacy alongside innovative technologies to solve the global climate crisis. Leila has served as director of Princeton’s social entrepreneurship club, Output, and interned for leading environmental diplomacy organizations such as the U.N. Environment Programme and the U.S. Department of State. Leila is contributing to research and development at PolyGone by working in the lab to refine protocols for microplastic detection and quantification.
Leila Owens
Research Intern
Keeren Maria Setokusumo is an undergraduate at Princeton studying Sociology with a certificate in Finance. Prior to Princeton, she led a student-founded organization called Anak Indonesia Bersatu and was the Co-Founder of TEDxYouth and TEDxWomen at her high school. She currently writes for the Daily Prince and is involved with Princeton’s Entrepreneurship’s Design Team. At PolyGone, she works under the media and communications team to assist with the company’s promotions, marketing and digital outreach.
Keeren Setokusumo
Media Intern
Kendall Jeong is an undergraduate student at Princeton Univeresity, concentrating in Economics and Environmental Studies. She is interested in exploring and developing the intersection between visual arts and sustainability. Kendall directs the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club’s Design Team and is a board member of the Inter-Communal Arts Students Services Organization. At PolyGone, she managed social media accounts and branding, and headed graphic design work.
Kendall Jeong
Media Intern
Amy Amatya graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Geosciences and minor in Anthropology. She works in climate change research and communication at Climate Central. At PolyGone, she writes about microplastics & culture, and built the website.
Amy Amatya
Media & Marketing
Hailey Moll is a current masters candidate at Columbia University pursuing a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy. She holds a B.S. in Zoology and Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont. Her interests lie at the intersection of effective science communication and environmental policymaking. She has a strong background in marketing, outreach, social issue organizing, policy, science education, and communications.Prior to working with PolyGone, Hailey educated Boston Public School students on climate change and environmental science, empowering them to become stewards of the planet in their own communities. Additionally, as the Communications Lead for the Boston Climate Action Network, she ran digital media campaigns and oversaw written communications. She holds certifications with the Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps founded by the esteemed Vice President Al Gore, the Digital Ads Apprenticeship program with Social Movement Technologies, and with the National Science Foundation's Northeast Regional I-Corps accelerator program, which she completed with members of the PolyGone team.
Hailey Moll
Development & Outreach Lead
Xi Chen received her B.S. degrees in environmental engineering and economics from Tsinghua University and her Ph.D. in environmental science and engineering at Tsinghua University with Prof. Xia Huang. She joined the Water & Energy Technologies (WET) Lab at Princeton University as a research associate in 2016, and currently is an associate research scholar at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. Her research focuses on using novel electrochemical processes and new materials for water treatment, energy generation, resource recovery, and carbon capture toward sustainable development and the water–energy nexus. At PolyGone, she contributed to research and design.
Xi Chen
Research Lead
Tanner is a PhD student in chemistry at Princeton University studying RNA chemical biology. His thesis work focuses on certain RNA modifications, modifying enzymes, and their biological function. He holds a B.S. in biochemistry with a minor in mathematics from Northeastern University. With a strong interest in corporate strategy, macroeconomics, investing, and entrepreneurship, Tanner spends a considerable amount of time studying these topics and has served as an executive board member of the Princeton Graduate Consulting Club.
Tanner Eggert
Business Lead
Margaret is an aspiring biomedical engineer that’s interested in enhancing human capabilities via robotics and biomedical applications. She is currently on track to pursue Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University with an interest in biomaterials and biomechanics as well as pursuing a certificate in engineering biology and robotics. In her free time, she likes to paint, swim, and play violin.
Margaret Miao
Research Fellow
Pierre Maman
Intern
Linqing (Laurie) Lao is a third year student studying architecture at Syracuse University. Laurie specializes in 3D modeling, using real life examples such as rhinoceros to create these subjects as practice. She also uses Adobe programs such as Illustrator for drawing and Photoshop and Vray for rendering practice. Currently working with the new application Revit, Laurie is furthering her design skills and extending her work into video editing.
Linqing Lao
Design Intern
Pedro is a senior at Princeton University, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with minors in Astrobiology and Applied and Computational Mathematics. His academic interests in fluid dynamics and mechanical design, coupled with his commitment to marine conservation led him to PolyGone, where he applies his skills and knowledge towards a greater cause. His current responsibilities include conducting Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis on the plastic hunter and deployment sites, as well as prototyping and testing microplastic capturing brushes and their associated components.
Pedro Pimenta
Research Fellow
Brian is from the great city of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in Robotics & Cyberphysical Systems at Princeton University. I enjoy working on robotics because I think it's phenomenal seeing things move and work as intended! Aside from school, I spend most of my time with friends, watching & playing soccer, and watching YouTube.
Brian Mmari
Research Fellow
Raed Ahmed
Research Fellow
Yuntian (Barry) Zhang holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. He focuses on design to impact and the entangled duality of architecture and technology across scale. In his undergraduate thesis project, he collaboratively developed an architectural robot that
challenges the contemporary environmental dilemma of artificial acclimatization. At Polygone, he works under the design team to assist with spatial design, product design, exhibition design, and deployment design.
Yuntian Zhang
Assistant Designer
Joshua is a master’s student at Drexel University studying biomedical engineering with a concentration in neuroengineering. As an undergraduate student he studied at the University of Vermont, which broadened his awareness and enthusiasm to solve environmental issues, particularly with his time as a member in the Sunrise Movement. As a biomedical engineering student, Joshua uses his expertise to bridge the gap between technology and environmental stewardship. He currently focuses on creating experiments to further improve the capabilities of our filters.
Joshua Miller
Research Assistant