Biomimetic Chemistry

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Professor, Department of Chemistry, University Massachusetts-Amherst

EDUCATION:
• BS (Honors) 1985, Illinois Institute of Technology
• M Phil, 1987; PhD, 1990, Yale University
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1990, MIT

MEMBERSHIPS/AWARDS:
• 2009: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 2007: Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
• 2006: University of Massachusetts Chancellor’s Medal
• 2006: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Distinguished Researcher Award
• 2005: Invited Professor, Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan
• 2003-2004: Samuel F Conte University Distinguished Faculty Fellowship
• 1998-2000: Alfred P Sloan Fellow
• 1997-2002: Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar
• 1997: NSF CAREER Award
• 1996: American Chemical Society, Connecticut Valley Section, John Burlew Award in Research
• 1996-2001: Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar
• 1996-1997: Lilly Teaching Fellow, University of Massachusetts
• 1990-1993: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
• 1985: American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
A key issue in the use of nanomaterials is controlling the interfacial interactions of these complex systems. Our research program focuses on the tailoring of interfaces through the atomic-level control provided by organic synthesis. Using these tailored monolayers, we have developed particles for biological applications, including highly effective gene and drug delivery agents and sensors for the identification of pathogens. Concurrently, we are using nanoparticles as building blocks for the creation of new functional materials. In our research we couple synthetic capability with nanomaterials characterization and top-down fabrication techniques, providing access to materials and devices structured on all length scales. Underlying our efforts to create functional materials is an abiding curiosity of the fundamental nature of soft materials, including supramolecular assembly, collective and emergent behavior, surface science, and interfacial phenomena.