Seminars

Abstract: A bottlebrush polymer consists of a long linear backbone densely grafted with many relatively short side chains. Unlike classical linear polymers, mechanical, physical, and biochemical complexities can be independently encoded into the molecular architecture of bottlebrush polymers. This feature enables bottlebrush polymers to emerge as a platform for soft (bio)materials design and innovation. In…

Abstract: DNA and proteins naturally fold into intricate three-dimensional structures, enabling a wide range of essential biological functions. Mimicking these natural structuring principles in engineered materials offers immense potential, especially in medical technologies. Our lab leverages the distinctive characteristics of soft and nanomaterials to create advanced electronic systems with bioinspired architectures, capable of seamlessly integrating…

Abstract: The different solid structures or polymorphs of atomic and molecular crystals often possess different physical and chemical properties. Structural differences between organic molecular crystal polymorphs can affect, for example, bioavailability of active pharmaceutical formulations, the lethality of contact insecticides, and diffusive behavior in host-guest systems. Such differences can also influence the behavior of smart…

Abstract: The future of food refers to innovative and sustainable food products and ingredients developed through biotechnology, in combination with advanced processing technologies. These foods are designed to address the most pressing challenges faced by the food industry and the planet today, including growing global environmental sustainability challenges, an increase in demand for protein-rich foods such…

Abstract: In the Rationally Designed Immunotherapeutics and Interfaces (RDI) Lab, we integrate computational modeling, immunoengineering, and neurobiology to develop innovative, clinically translatable treatments for a wide range of infectious and neurological diseases. By combining evolutionary modeling, deep learning, and molecular simulations, we aim to uncover pathogenic mechanisms and inform the design of next-generation therapeutics. This…

Abstract: Predicting how an organ’s size and shape emerge from complex biomolecular interactions remains one of the most significant challenges in systems biology and tissue engineering. Our research integrates experimental and computational approaches to elucidate the underlying principles of morphogenesis. To do so, we use the larval wing disc of the fruit fly as a…

Abstract: This presentation will provide an overview of a new U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering  Research Center (ERC) named EARTH (Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub). Heating,  ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are essential to human quality of life but exact a  significant environmental toll. Most current refrigerants are high-global-warming-potential (GWP)  hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with…

Abstract: Energetic materials (propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics) are defined by their unusually high energy density and their ability to release this energy rapidly. They find uses in civilian and military applications. The Purdue Energetics Research Center (PERC) is the largest academic center in the US focusing on energetic materials. PERC supports laboratory and computational research…

Abstract: Evolution allows organisms to adapt to their environments, yet some molecular patterns stay constant through billions of years of evolution. These patterns encode the secrets of biological materials, such that similar patterns often emerge in different materials with similar functions. For example, a family of elastin proteins form stretchable fibers, which allow the constant…

Abstract: The use of low-temperature liquid metals, such as gallium, as media for the dilution of  other metals has led to an increasing variety of examples of how temperature- and  concentration-dependent interactions can be used to direct the self-assembly of  nanostructure, with astonishing precision, resulting in novel pattern formation and  structural control. However the underlying…