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Gaurav Arya

Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
3383 Fitzpatrick Center (CIEMAS), Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
144 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


My research laboratory uses physics-based computational tools to provide fundamental, molecular-level understanding of a diverse range of biological and soft-material systems, with the aim of discovering new phenomena and developing new technologies. The methods we use or develop are largely based on statistical mechanics, molecular modeling and simulations, stochastic dynamics, coarse-graining, bioinformatics, machine learning, and polymer/colloidal physics. Our current research interests fall within four main themes: genome organization and regulation; polymer-nanoparticle composites; viral-DNA-packaging; and DNA nanotechnology. Please visit our website for more details about each of these research projects.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science · 2021 - Present Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Chemistry · 2022 - Present Chemistry, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biomedical Engineering · 2024 - Present Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering

In the News


Published July 15, 2025
How AI is Rewriting the Rules of Materials Discovery
Published May 9, 2024
International Soft Matter Community Converges in North Carolina
Published April 17, 2024
Capturing DNA Origami Folding with a New Dynamic Model

View All News

Recent Publications


Tunable Patterning of DNA Origami on Surfaces Using Steric Brushes

Journal Article Angewandte Chemie International Edition · June 4, 2026 ABSTRACTTailoring the properties of 2D materials through precise control of both local arrangement and long‐range order on surfaces remains a central challenge in materials science. While surface‐assisted ... Full text Cite

Role of Polymer-Protein Interactions in the Dynamics of Polymer-Integrated Protein Crystals.

Journal Article Journal of the American Chemical Society · May 2026 The incorporation of synthetic polymers into biomolecular materials provides a powerful strategy to enhance their properties. We recently showed that the interstitial spaces of highly solvated mesoporous ferritin crystals could be infiltrated with acrylate ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Collaborative Research: DMREF: Architecting DNA nanodevices into metamaterials, transducing materials, and assembling materials

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2023 - 2027

Programmable Mesoscale Self-Assembly at Nanopatterned Surfaces.

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Energy · 2020 - 2027

Understanding the supramolecular nature of the ligand-nanocrystal interlayer

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of California - San Diego · 2024 - 2027

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Education


University of Notre Dame · 2003 Ph.D.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (India) · 1998 B.Tech.