(6h) Bio-Inspired, Self-Organizing Soft Materials

From adhesives, foams, shape-shifting materials, and paints, to the structure of biological cells, soft materials are ubiquitous. Because of their tendency to deform under thermal stresses, soft materials have intriguing characteristics such as self-healing, mechanical adaptivity, and self-organization. I am particularly fascinated by a class of soft materials that derives from biological polymers. Distinct from manufactured materials, these biological materials are active and dynamic, driven by accessory proteins that catalyze enzymatic reactions to create internal stresses and regulate polymer dynamics. Aided by advances in biochemistry and molecular biology that continue to reveal components of the biomolecular toolbox, these biological systems provide exciting frontiers in understanding and designing exotic soft materials. I propose to establish an interdisciplinary and collaborative research program that focuses on elucidating macromolecular mechanisms of controlling material properties and self-organization in soft, biopolymer-based materials.

As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago, my research focuses on active, biopolymer materials derived from the cytoskeletal proteins which regulate cell mechanics and shape control. In particular, my research focuses on a liquid condensed phase formed from cross-linked biopolymer filaments. These condensates are made of densely packed, aligned filaments, which cause the condensates to be anisotropic. Inspired by colloids and molecular liquid crystals, my research interests involve understanding these anisotropic condensates to create self-organized and shape changing composite assemblies, with structures and properties evocative of biological assemblies. As a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, my research focused on elucidating mechanisms of self-assembly and deformation in model biological membranes.

Teaching Interests:

I value inquiry-based interactive teaching with a focus on training independent scholars, positioned for interdisciplinary careers. With a Ph.D in an interdepartmental program, Biomolecular Science and Engineering, and undergraduate background in Physics, I have diverse training at the interface of physical and biological sciences and engineering. I look forward to applying my background to teach core courses and am excited to develop courses at intersection of chemical engineering and the physical and biological sciences. I am particularly interested in teaching experimental courses and am especially enthusiastic about introducing undergraduates to research. As a graduate student, I emphasized inquiry as teaching assistant for nine quarters in both upper and lower division, laboratory and lecture courses. Throughout my graduate and postdoctoral research, I have enjoyed mentoring several undergraduate and graduate students in interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects.