CBE

Polymer is often considered one of the most prevalent materials in the modern age. While it has been predominantly synthesized in solution and processed into a variety of macroscopic sizes and shapes, the need for programmability in materials’ microscopic properties has challenged the traditional synthesis approaches. Recent advances in vacuum-based synthesis technologies, such as the […]

High-level control of atomic and surface structures is a hallmark of the application of nanomaterials in a range of electrochemical and electrocatalytic devices, such as water electrolyzer. They play critical roles in our effort to develop energy conversion and storage technologies that have net zero carbon impacts. Nanostructured metal oxides made for catalyzing the oxygen […]

The physics of active matter, such as bacterial colonies and bird flocks, exhibiting interesting self-organizing dynamical behavior has gained considerable importance in recent years. Recent theoretical advances use techniques from hydrodynamics, kinetic theory, and non-equilibrium statistical physics. However, for biological agents, these don’t seem to recognize explicitly their critical feature, namely, the role of survival-driven […]

On small length-scales, the mechanics of soft materials may be dominated by their interfacial properties as opposed to their bulk properties. These effects are described by equilibrium models of elasto-capillarity and wetting. In these models, interfacial energies and bulk material properties are held constant. However, in biological materials, including living cells and tissues, these properties […]

Traditionally, the dynamic modeling of chemical processes has relied on first-principles models grounded in fundamental physics and chemistry laws. These models, primarily formulated through differential equations with constant parameters, enable the calculation of control actions optimizing process operations, taking both process and actuator limitations into account. However, the ever-evolving and nonlinear nature of chemical processes […]

The ability to modulate pathogenic proteins represents a powerful treatment strategy for diseases. Unfortunately, many proteins are considered "undruggable" by small molecules, and are often intrinsically disordered, precluding the usage of structure-based tools for binder design. To address these challenges, we have developed a suite of algorithms that enable the design of target-specific peptides via […]

One of the most intriguing outcomes of casting our thinking about the world around us in mathematical terms is that phenomena that were thought to be quite distinct are instead revealed as being the “same.” Thinkers as long ago as Pliny the Elder made observations on active matter noting: "It is a peculiarity of the […]

Holistic imaging of diverse functional, anatomical, and molecular architecture that span multiple levels, from cells to an entire system, remains a major challenge in biology. In this talk, I will introduce a series of technologies that enable integrated multiscale imaging and molecular phenotyping of both animal tissues and human clinical samples. I will discuss how […]