The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering has awarded a $682,463 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant to Georgia TECH Research Corporation's Office of Sponsored Programs to conduct research on understanding the deformation and failure mechanisms of recycled polymers. The project aims to enable the substitution of virgin plastics with high-performance recycled materials, addressing the challenge of plastic pollution. Through an integrated experimental and computational approach, the research will investigate how altering the internal structure of recycled polymers can improve their strength and toughness. The findings are expected to enhance scientific understanding and foster the development of advanced recycled materials that could benefit multiple U.S. industries and promote sustainability. The grant, awarded under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), will support this fundamental research effort over a 5-year period from September 2024 to August 2029.