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

技术总结这个职业奖项是由材料研究部和化学部资助的。它支持软物质自组装的理论和计算研究和教育。软材料是物理状态容易被热尺度能量变形的物质，其中包括液体、胶体、凝胶和许多生物材料。尽管软物质有序是在微米和亚微米尺度上组装复杂和有趣的材料的一种很有前途的方法，但即使是涉及到的一些最简单的过程，微观上的理解仍然是难以捉摸的。PI将研究在两类软物质系统中组装的一些关键微观因素的平衡和非平衡行为：蛋白质和胶体微相形成物。该计划旨在提出有目的的设计策略，以控制装配的形态和功能。1)蛋白质项目：PI将研究控制成核的蛋白质对相互作用的微观贡献，以提出新的合理的突变方法和促进蛋白质结晶的实验条件。2)胶体微相生成器项目：PI将研究球形和棒状粒子系统中微相图案的平衡和非平衡组装，以了解和控制胶体组装中可能的形态范围。教育部分支持沿着两个主要方向的努力：1)通过在普通化学课程中开发软物质的重点部分，促进物理、化学和材料科学界面的多学科学习，化学专业的材料科学专业；以及2)通过在杜克大学理论和数学科学中心和杜克-达勒姆邻里伙伴计划的基础上，为北卡罗来纳州达勒姆社区的高中生开发一个外展计划，扩大未被充分代表的群体在理论科学中的参与。非技术总结这个职业奖项由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。软材料的例子经常可以在厨房里找到或改造。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，软物质还可以形成复杂而有用的结构，这些结构的特征小于一微米，即百万分之一米。为了利用这些工艺来设计新的材料和功能，有必要在微观层面上详细了解它们的组装。PI将研究在两个软物质系统家族：蛋白质和图案形成粒子中控制组装形状、动力学和功能的设计策略。教育部分支持两个主要方面的努力：1)通过为普通化学课程开发一个关于软物质的重点部分，并为化学专业学生开发一个材料科学专业，促进物理、化学和材料科学之间的多学科学习；以及2)通过在杜克大学理论和数学科学中心和杜克-达勒姆邻里伙伴计划的基础上，为北卡罗来纳州达勒姆社区的高中生开发一个外展计划，扩大未被充分代表的群体在理论科学中的参与。

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.