Dr. Chong Sook P. Sung, former director of the IMS Polymer Program and professor emeritus in the University of Connecticut’s Department of Chemistry, has made a generous $50,000 endowment to expand opportunities for polymer program students. The fund will provide support for conference travel and other professional development activities—experiences that can be pivotal in shaping early research careers.
For Dr. Sung, the gift is both practical and personal. Reflecting on her own path at UConn, she noted that standing out as a woman and an international scholar required creativity and persistence—especially when it came to building support for research.
“During my career at UConn I realized as a woman and foreigner, that in order to succeed in raising funds I needed to be innovative,” Dr. Sung said.
She remembers a formative moment when the Army Research Office encouraged her to apply for funding, recognizing her work as not only innovative, but creative. That affirmation reinforced a core belief she has carried throughout her career: breakthrough research depends on fresh thinking, and researchers thrive when they’re given the chance to share ideas, build confidence, and connect with others in their field. Her endowment is intended to help current and future IMS Polymer Program students do exactly that.
Dr. Sung’s academic journey spans top institutions and decades of leadership in polymer science. She earned her B.S. in textile engineering from Seoul National University, then completed an M.S. in polymeric materials and a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute of New York. In 1976, she joined the faculty at MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering before coming to UConn in 1983 as a member of the Department of Chemistry.
From 1998 to 2002, Dr. Sung served as director of the IMS Polymer Program. Across her career, she advised more than 25 students, mentoring researchers who would go on to build academic careers and teach around the world.
Her latest contribution reflects a longstanding commitment to student success. Dr. Sung views conference attendance and professional development as more than résumé builders—they are essential training grounds. Presenting research helps students gain confidence and clarity, while networking enables collaborations, mentorships, and career opportunities that often shape the direction of a scientist’s future.
By establishing this endowment, Dr. Sung is ensuring that more IMS Polymer Program students can access those experiences—strengthening not only individual career trajectories, but also the broader research community they will help lead.
