CAREER: Soft Matter Self-Assembly: Protein Crystallization and Colloidal Microphase Formation

技术摘要该职业奖由材料研究部和化学部资助。 它支持软物质自组装的理论和计算研究和教育。软材料是其物理状态容易被热尺度能量变形的物质，并且包括液体、胶体、凝胶和许多生物材料。虽然软物质有序化是在微米和亚微米尺度上组装复杂和有趣材料的一种有前途的方法，但即使是对所涉及的一些最简单过程的微观理解仍然是难以捉摸的。PI将研究一些关键的微观因素的平衡和非平衡行为，以组装在两个家庭的软物质系统：蛋白质和胶体微相形成。该计划旨在推进有目的的设计策略，以控制装配形态和功能。1)蛋白质项目：PI将研究对控制成核的蛋白质相互作用的微观贡献，以提出新的合理诱变方法和促进蛋白质结晶的实验条件。2）胶体微相形成剂项目：PI将研究球形和棒状颗粒体系中微相模式的平衡和非平衡组装，教育部分支持沿着两个主要方向的努力：1）通过为普通化学课程开发软物质重点部分和为化学专业开发材料科学集中部分，促进物理，化学和材料科学界面的多学科学习;和2）通过为北卡罗来纳州达勒姆的高中生制定外展计划，扩大代表性不足群体对理论科学的参与，社区，建立在杜克大学的理论和数学科学中心和杜克-达勒姆邻里合作计划。非技术总结这个职业奖是通过材料研究部和化学部资助。 它支持软物质的理论和计算研究和教育。软材料的例子通常可以在厨房中找到或转换。泡沫、凝胶、谷物和许多生物材料都是常见的例子。在受控条件下，软物质也可以形成复杂而有用的结构，其特征小于一微米，百万分之一米。为了利用这些过程来设计新的材料和功能，有必要在微观水平上详细了解它们的组装。PI将研究控制两类软物质系统（蛋白质和模式形成粒子）的组装形状、动力学和功能的设计策略。教育部分支持沿着两个主要目标：1）通过在普通化学课程中开发软物质重点部分和化学专业材料科学集中部分，促进物理、化学和材料科学界面的多学科学习;和2）通过为北卡罗来纳州达勒姆社区的高中生制定一项外展计划，扩大理论科学中代表性不足的群体的参与，该计划建立在杜克大学理论与数学科学中心和杜克-达勒姆社区伙伴关系计划的基础上。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER award is funded through the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Chemistry. It supports theoretical and computational research and education on soft matter self-assembly. Soft materials are substances whose physical states are easily deformed by thermal-scale energies, and include, among others, liquids, colloids, gels, and a number of biological materials. Though soft matter ordering is a promising approach to assembling complex and interesting materials on the micron and sub-micron scale, a microscopic understanding of even some of the simplest processes involved remains elusive. The PI will investigate the equilibrium and non-equilibrium behavior of some key contributing microscopic factors to assembly in two families of soft matter systems: proteins and colloidal microphase-formers. This program aims to advance purposeful design strategies for controlling assembly morphology and function. 1) Project on proteins: The PI will research the microscopic contributions to pair protein interactions that control nucleation, in order to suggest novel rational mutagenesis approaches and experimental conditions that facilitate protein crystallization.2) Project on colloidal microphase-formers: The PI will research the equilibrium and non-equilibrium assembly of microphase patterns in systems of spherical and rod-like particles, in order to understand and control the range of possible morphologies in colloidal assembly.The educational component supports efforts along two main thrusts:1) Promoting multidisciplinary learning at the interface of physics, chemistry, and materials science by developing a focus section on soft matter for the general chemistry curriculum, and a materials science concentration for chemistry majors; and2) Broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in the theoretical sciences by developing an outreach program for high school students in the Durham, NC, community that builds on Duke University's Center for Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences and the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership Program.NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER award is funded through the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Chemistry. It supports theoretical and computational research and education on soft matter. Examples of soft materials can often be found or transformed in a kitchen. Foams, gels, grains, and many biological materials are common examples. Under controlled conditions, soft matter can also form complex and useful structures that have features smaller than a micron, a millionth of a meter. In order to take advantage of these processes for designing new materials and functionalities, a detailed understanding of their assembly at the microscopic level is necessary. The PI will investigate design strategies for controlling the assembly shape, dynamics, and function in two families of soft matter system: proteins and pattern-forming particles.The educational component supports efforts along two main thrusts:1) Promoting multidisciplinary learning at the interface of physics, chemistry, and materials science by developing a focus section on soft matter for the general chemistry curriculum, and a materials science concentration for chemistry majors; and2) Broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in the theoretical sciences by developing an outreach program for high school students in the Durham, NC, community that builds on Duke University's Center for Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences and the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership Program.