 Research Interests
I am interested in applying statistical mechanics and molecular modeling
to study the properties of biological or synthetic macromolecules.
Network polymers. I am interested in developing new techniques for
characterizing the branching, cyclization, and entanglement patterns
of network polymers. There are many well-known synthetic pathways for
forming such networks, but relatively little is known about the detailed
molecular architecture, or how it varies from one synthesis to another.
This research includes applying concepts from graph theory and knot theory
to understand and characterize these networks.
Pharmacophore modeling.
Transport properties of macromolecules. We have a fascinating
new technique for the computation of the diffusivities and the
intrinsic viscosities of macromolecules. The technique is powerful
enough that we can study macromolecules of arbitrary shape.
Computations have been performed on linear chain polymers, (both
random coil and wormlike models), star polymers, dendrimers, and
proteins.
Glass transition. I have developed a model spin glass, which,
unlike other spin glass models, faithfully represents many of
the properties of the physical glass transition. Work continues
on understanding how this model must be generalized to understand
physical glasses Employment History 1999 to present, Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology
1999, National Cancer Institute
1985 to 1999, Senior Research Scientist, Michigan Molecular Institute
1983 to 1985, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland Honors/Awards Initiatives in Research Award of the National Academy of Sciences,
1988.
NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, 1985. Funding
- Army Research Laboratory, 1996-97. Team leader in the area of Dendritic Molecular Simulation and Theory for the ARL-MM Dendritic Polymer Center of Excellence.
- Proprietary industrial contract, 1997.
- Dow Chemical Company contract for molecular modeling studies, 1998.
Education: Post Doctoral Associate - Dept. of Chemistry, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, Colorado. 1981-1983
Ph.D. - Dartmouth College, Chemistry, 1981
B.A. - University of Utah, Physics, 1977. |
