Research

Our group's research in polymers is presented in three interrelated categories: Polymer Physics, Materials Design and Synthesis, and Bio- and Biomedical Materials. We seek a "molecule's eye view" of the phase behavior, self-assembly and morphology development in polymers, guided by statistical mechanics and employing diverse scattering and microscopy techniques. Physical insight informs the materials we design to achieve new functions—such as improving fuel safety, providing fresh water while harvesting resources, and enabling "disappearing" implants. Physical, chemical and biological perspectives converge in our efforts to understand living materials, from biofilms to human tissues, with particular interest in improving and maintaining vision.