(6n) Exploring the Design Space of Living Systems: Experimental and Theoretical Tool-Kits for Multi-Functional Materials

Symone Alexander, Ph.D.

Eckert Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Dept. of Chem. and Biomol. Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

Research Interests:

From
an engineering perspective, nature creates motion through fundamental concepts
like fluid transport, thermodynamics, and material properties. These fundamental
design parameters can then be utilized to develop materials with tailorable
transport, responsiveness and motion. My research focuses on identifying the
key design concepts used by living systems to control the speed, direction, and
magnitude of response to dynamic environments. I aim utilize both experimental
and theoretical strategies to investigate the role of polymeric structures in
storage, compartmentalization, and delivery in living systems, and aim to
employ fundamental design concepts learned from nature to target toxins and
tailor motion in complex environments via dynamic polymer materials.

Research Experience:

As
a chemical engineer with a passion for molecular design and assembly, my
research trajectory has included elements of chemistry, materials science and
engineering, polymer physics, and biophysics. My experience within these research
disciplines surrounds small molecule and macromolecular assemblies and
interfaces and the use of hierarchical materials for rapid motion. My
dissertation focused on two main concepts: influencing self-assembly by
diversifying the fluid environments of molecules and translating those
hierarchical assembly and interfacial interactions to solid-state functional
materials. Through this work, I developed a research platform for hygromorphic
bilayer composites and explored a new area in the field of molecular gels by
utilizing their self-assembly in both the solution and solid states. One of the
key findings of this fundamental investigation is the ability to achieve
solid-state reversibility of small molecules by tailoring their solution state
assembly. As a part of this project, I submitted a highly-ranked, successful
beam time proposal to Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source. My
research project design was also instrumental to a successful ACS-PRF New
Directions grant. I also utilized electrospun nanofibers to guide transport of
fluids in hierarchical polymer nanocomposites, and was a Visiting Scholar at
M.I.T., where my preliminary research findings on fiber-wrapped light guides
were used to foster scientific collaboration between the Korley and Kolle research groups.  Throughout my diverse investigations of self-assembling
systems, I have mastered an assortment of characterization techniques, and translated
the impact of molecular assembly across multiple length scales and scientific
disciplines.

            As a postdoc, I seek to uncover more
material design parameters used in nature by studying the physics and
engineering of living systems. I am currently exploring the following question:
how can we push the utility of natural polymeric materials to achieve ultrafast
motion? To do so, I am investigating a tiny arachnid native to the Peruvian
Amazon Rainforest known as the “Slingshot Spider.” This spider employs a
conical 3-D web to achieve accelerations exceeding 1300 m/s^2 without
sustaining physiological harm. In this research, I am examining how slingshot
spiders achieve ultrafast motion and power amplification using polymeric
materials, fundamental physics concepts, and engineering design, while sharing
insight about the utility of this extraordinary prey capture strategy.

Teaching Interests:

My
academic background and research experience have equipped me to teach core
courses, laboratory courses, and electives that are inclusive of macromolecular
science and engineering, chemical engineering, and chemistry departments. In
the classroom, I want to foster a learning environment that encourages
curiosity and engagement. By setting clear learning objectives that are
supplemented with metacognitive activities and assignments, I want to empower
students to reflect on their learning and studying processes and improve or
reinforce their strategies for success. Additionally, I aim to instill the
importance of individuality and inclusivity by introducing class content and
projects that are relevant to a diverse range of cultural, societal, and
economic challenges. As a mentor, I plan to be a launching pad for my students
to their chosen career path. I want to be a resource for advice, opportunity,
and connection with additional mentors. As a research mentor, my goal is to
help my students achieve research excellence by building confidence, critical
thinking skills, and safe, efficient research practices. In addition, I plan to
train my students to excel in interpersonal and scientific communication, so
that they are able to build a strong professional network while connecting with
and helping educate our communities.

Additional Roles: Social Media Contributor, Biophysical Journal

Successful Proposals/Awards: 2018 MIT Rising Stars in Chemical
Engineering, Eckert Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, NSF Graduate Research
Fellowship (NSF-GRFP), Argonne National Laboratory General User Proposal
(APS-GUP)

Featured Publications:

Symone L. M. Alexander & LaShanda T. J. Korley, Restricting
molecular mobility in polymer nanocomposites with self-assembling
low-molecular-weight gel additives, ACS
Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2018, 10
(49), 43040–43048

Symone L. M. Alexander and L. T. J. Korley, Tunable hygromorphism:
structural implications of low molecular weight gels and electrospun nanofibers
in bilayer composites, Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 283-291 (Soft Matter emerging investigators 2017)

Symone L. M. Alexander, Lindsay E. Matolyak and LaShanda T. J. Korley,
Intelligent Nanofiber Composites: Dynamic Communication between Materials and
Their Environment, Macromol. Mater. Eng., 2017,
1700133 (Featured on Advanced Science News)