Soft materials and complex fluids
At the intersection of chemical engineering, physics, and physical chemistry, we use micromechanical, rheological, optical, and spectroscopic experimental tools to discover how intermolecular and surface forces control the dynamics of micro- and nano-scale structures in soft matter. Areas of focus include:
- colloidal suspensions, gels, emulsions, foams, and self-assembling solutions
- coupling physical experiments with advanced data analytics in multicomponent systems to develop sustainable products
Our research generates novel separation and microreactor technologies, and it facilitates the design of formulated products for:
- pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems
- agrochemicals
- coatings
- detergents
Sample research projects
Richard Cobos
Richard Cobos studies electrokinetic phenomena through theory and numerical computations. Currently, Cobos is studying nonlinear effects on electrophoresis of colloidal particles in strong electric fields.
Advisor: Aditya Khair
Maryam Ali
Maryam Ali's research involves the development of high-throughput experiments to measure properties of multi-component fluid formulations. Her goal is to develop empirical models relating bulk properties to the underlying molecular mechanisms in order to systematically develop innovative and sustainable formulations. Currently, she is validating a high-throughput spectroscopic method to measure micellar enhanced solubility of water-insoluble molecules.
Advisor: Bob Tilton
Jeremy Kach
Jeremy Kach is interested in the collective dynamics of electrohydrodynamic emulsions under externally applied electric fields. Under action of the field, electric stresses at the drop interface give rise to fluid flow, resulting in nonequilibrium interactions between drops that lead to a rich set of tunable structures and dynamic behaviors.
Advisor: Aditya Khair
D. Alejandro Castellanos
D. Alejandro Castellanos is researching nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Advisor: Aditya Khair
