Through a six year, $13.6M grant, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research has established a multi-university center in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina to investigate aspects and applications of programmable assembly of soft matter. The Triangle MRSEC (http://www.mrsec.duke.edu) will include researchers at Duke University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University and will include two primary interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) as well as seed projects. IRG1 is focused on multicomponent colloidal assembly and will develop fundamental understanding of self-assembly of bulk functional materials from multi-component colloidal suspensions. IRG2 is focused on the concept of syntax in the sequence of genetically encoded peptides with a deliberate goal of understanding programmable self-assembly of these peptides into supramolecular nano- to meso-scale structures. Both IRGs will combine elements of synthesis, characterization, theory and simulation to develop fundamental understanding for creation of useful new types of soft matter via programmable assembly and will also proactively engage in translating discoveries and innovations to the commercial sector. The Triangle MRSEC will be a national resource for soft matter materials science / engineering research and education in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (Triangle) area of North Carolina, a thriving technological and economic hub with a high concentration of materials innovation activity in both academia and industry.

The paper “Field-Induced Nanolithography for Patterning of Non-Fouling Polymer Brush Surfaces” by Robert Ferris, Angus Hucknall, Byung Seok Kwon, Tao Chen, Ashutosh Chilkoti, and Stefan Zauscher* was just accepted for publication in the journal Small. Congrats!

Please click here for Zauscher CV .

Gregory Hardy was awarded NSF’s East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) fellowship and will be spending the summer in Adelaide, Australia. He will be collaborating with Joe Shapter from Flinders University to image complex biomimetic lipid membranes. Congrats Greg! Make sure you bring us back some good wine : )

Our very own, Robert Ferris came in second at the Virginia Tech ACC Conference Cycling Championships in Blacksburg, VA, and the team took the championship—earning the first ever ACC Division II Championship for Duke Cycling. The team’s blog (http://dukecycling.org/) gives a heart-pumping description of the heavy rains, dangerous crashes, broken derailleurs, descents through streams of water rushing pedal-high across the road, and confusing mass starts. Congratulations Rob!