Research Interests
Nano-mechanical and nano-tribological characterization (elasticity, friction, adhesion) of materials including organic thin films; self-assembled monolayers, polymeric gels, and cellulosics; Fabrication of polymeric nanostructures by scanning probe lithography; Colloidal probe and atomic force microscopy; Single molecule force spectroscopy applied to ligand-receptor binding; Biomolecular nano- and micro-sensors
Selected Grants
Molecular engineering of HA-based lubricants for articular cartilage
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028University Training Program in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1994 - 2027Local Polymer Interfacial Mechanics: Effect of Topological and Chemical NanoPatterning
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2025Acquisition of a Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) for Fundamental and Applied Biomedical Research, Education and Training
EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2024 - 2025High-resolution characterization of biologically relevant soft materials
EquipmentCo Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2024 - 2025Acquisition of a VRS1250 Video-Rate Imaging Module for a Shared-Use Asylum-Cypher Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2023 - 2024LUMICKS C-TRAP
EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2023Acquisition of a Biacore T200 Surface Plasmon Resonance Instrument for Shared Use
EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2022 - 2023DMREF: Collaborative Research: High throughput Exploration of Sequence Space of Peptide Polymers that Exhibit Aqueous Demixing Phase Behavior
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2017 - 2021Injectability analysis of high concentration protein formulations by extending shear-rate range in microfluidic quartz viscometers
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Qatch Technologies LLC · 2020 - 2021The Graduate Diversity Enrichment Program (GDEP)
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2019 - 2021In situ Enzymatic Synthesis of Aptamer Targeted Polynucleotide Drug Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy (Year 2)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2021Micro-Rheometry by Microfluidic Quartz Resonators for Quantitative Viscosity Characterization of High Concentration Protein Solutions
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Qatch Technologies LLC · 2019 - 2020Programming bacteria for materials fabrication
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2015 - 2019Collaborative Research: Supramolecular Materials by Nucleic Acid Block Copolymer Selfassembly
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2014 - 2019Self-assembled microporous networks for cell culture
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by EMD Millipore · 2017 - 2019Microfluidic quartz resonator based blood plasma coagulation monitors
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Qatch Technologies LLC · 2017 - 2018Triangle CEMRI
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2011 - 2018Research Triangle MRSEC Supplement to NSF 1121107
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2011 - 2018Texas State University PREM: Center on Interfaces in Materials
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Texas State University · 2012 - 2017Programming bacteria for materials fabrication
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2012 - 2015Structural Biology and Biophysics Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1994 - 2015Surface Initiated Enzymatic Polymerization of DNA Nanostructures for Highly Amplified Sensing
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2010 - 2015HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibody Binding to Viral Membrane Mimics
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2012 - 2015GOALI Collaborative Research: Engineering Magnetorheological (MR) Fluids
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2010 - 2013GOALI: Engineering Magnetorheological Fluids by Controlling Nonmagnetic Particle Interactions
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2009 - 2013NSF MRI Research Triangle X-Ray Scattering Instrumentation: SAXS/WAXS/GISAXS
EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2012 - 2013AVS Conference: Topical Conference on Marine Biofouling at AVS 57th International Symposium, Albequerque, New Mexico. October 2010
ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2010 - 2011Engineering a Localized pH Switch at the Solid-Liquid Interface
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2008 - 2011AVS-BID Conference Speaker Support 2010
ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2010 - 2011AVS Conference: Biomaterials Interfaces Division
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2009 - 2010Imaginary Magnetic Tweezers for Biophysical Force Measurements
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2006 - 2010NIRT: Hierarchical Bionanomanufacturing
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2006 - 2010Design and Fabrication of Quartz Crystal Resonators for Nano-Mechano-Chemistry Research: An Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Experience for Undergraduate Students
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2009 - 2010CAREER: Fabrication and Characterization of Stimulus-Responsive Polymer Nanostructures
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2003 - 2010Adult Stem Cell Enrichment via Biomechanical Characterization
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2007 - 2009Training in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2009NSF-Europe Materials Collaboration: Synthesis, Characterization and Molecular Modeling of Stimulus-Responsive Polymer Brushes on Surfaces
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2005 - 2009A Nanoengineering Design Experience for Engineering Students at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham
Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2008 - 2009International Symposium on Biomaterials Interfaces
ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2008 - 2009Effect of Shockwaves on the Biochemical and Biomechanical Function of Cells (supplement)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2007 - 2009Synthesis, Mechanics, and Modeling of Stimulus Responsive Polymers for Engineering Applications
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2006 - 2008Collaborative Research: Surface and Actuation Kinetics of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2003 - 2007Biomolecular and Polymeric Nanostructures and Interfaces
ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2006 - 2006Nanofabrication of Polymer-Functionalized Surfaces Using Scanning Probe Lithography
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2002 - 2006Synthesis, Mechanics, and Modeling of Stimulus Responsive Polymers for Engineering Applications
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2002 - 2006Enhanced AFM-Imaging of Soft Nanostructures through Q-Control
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2002 - 2005Acquisition of an Imaging XPS for Materials Research and Training
EquipmentCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2002 - 2004Development and Construction of Single Molecule Spectrometers for Research and Student Training
EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2001 - 2003Development and Construction of a High-resolution, Single-axis Atomic Force Microscope for Research and Student Training
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2001 - 2002External Relationships
- Qatch Technologies
This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.