Department of ChemistrySamuel Fain: The use of scanning probe microscopy to investigate surface forces and interactions. Of particular interest are the nanoscale mechanical properties of the ice surface and its interface with solid materials.
Edward Stern: The use of X-ray absorption and scattering techniques to study the nucleation of melting impurities and the local structure of disordered materials.
Marjorie Olmstead: Understanding the mechanism of thin film growth and the unique properties of the resultant low-dimensional structures. An example is the growth of CaF2 film on silicon single crytal surfaces.
Larry Sorensen: Structural and dynamical studies of surfaes under electrochemical conditions. Crystalline superlattices and freely suspended liquid crystal films are also being studied.
John Rehr: The development of multiple scattering calculations for interpreting the X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) spectra for clusters of atoms is being carried out.
Michael Schick: Michael Schick is a theoretical physicist interested in self-assembly in various systems, such as diblock copolymers and biological lipids. He is currently studying the transitions between various lipid phases in connection with problems of membrane fusion and non-viral drug delivery.
Mehmet Sarikaya: The study of biomimetics is being investigated. Topics include biomineralization, genetically engineered materials, biopolymers and bioduplication.
Fumio Ohuchi: Atomic level materials synthesis. Thiis includes the manipulation of atoms and molecules at metal-ceramic, metal-polymer, metal semiconductor, semiconductor-insulator and polymer ceramic surfaces and interfaces.
Francois Baneyx: Topics in biotechnology, protein technology and biochemical engineering. The aim is to solve some essential problems in the biotechnology, biomedical, and pharmaceutical areas while providing a strong background in bioengineering, molecular biology and biochemistry.
John Berg: The study of interfacial phenomena and colloid science. Examples include the interaction betwen liquids and solid surfaces as thery are influenced by acid-base interactions, the improvement of contact adhesion, and the mechanical properties of new composite materials.
Rene Overney: Nanomechanical and viscous properties of materials comprised of assemblies of molecules configured over submicron length scales and constraint by chemically interactive interfaces and the phenomenon of entropy loss due to reduced dimensionality that occurs in thin films and boundary layers close to interfaces. High entropy materials, i.e., materials whose phase is considered to be in the bulk fluid or fluid-like state, is of particular interest.
Mary Lidstrom: Topics in biomolecular engineering, metabolic engineering, and bioremediation. Molecular and metabolic manipulations of bacteria are carried out with the goal of developing environmentally sound and economically viable alternatives to current chemical production and cleanup strategies.
J. W. Rogers: Fundamental aspects of the low temperature deposition of refractory thin films. These films are used for such diverse technologies as dielecric layers for quantum well devices, lubricious oxides for tribological applications, and conformal coatings for microelectronics packaging.
Eric Stuve: Electrochemical surface science of species like HNO3, SO2, NH3, and CH3OH. Electrode surfaces are analyzed both immersed in solutions and prior to or following immersion in the electrolyte in order to investigate reactions on an atomic scale.
Daniel Schwartz: Use of electrochemical enbgineering to apply the principles of transport phenomena, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and materials science to chemical systems that involve charge transfer. Examples include high perfpormance magnetic films and environmental restoration using elecrochemical remediation.
Alan Hoffman: Research and development of novel polymeric systems useful in devices, instruments, or implants for medical diagnostics or therapeutics, as well as for indiustrial sensors, bioreactors, and separation processes. To this end, new polymeric compositions are synthesized and the bulk properties of existing polymers are modified.
Gerald Pollack: Study of the molecular mechanism of biological motion, including muscle contraction. Specialized instrumentation is being developed to probe these mechanisms.
Paul Yager: Current research topics inmclude tubule forming polypeptides and their application to drug delivery, the spinning of natural and artificial silk, and the development of minuaturized blood chemistry monitors based on microfluidic chemical analytical systems.
Viola Vogel: Study of molecular assembly processes at interfaces. Areas of interest include Langmuir-Blodgett films, biomineralization, protein crystallization, and the application of nonlinear optical techniques to molecular assembly.
Patrick Stayton: Fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular recognition and applying the unique capabilities of biological molecules to biotechnologies. Goals include bridging the gap between understanding molecular structure-function relationships and being able to utilize proteins/peptides/DNA for in vivo drug therapies, bioseparations, diagnostics, and biomaterial development