Research

At SMIL+E (Soft Matter Innovation Lab + Education), we believe the next generation of functional materials will be shaped by our ability to guide molecular assembly with precision and creativity. Our research focuses on unlocking the molecular-scale dynamics and entropic factors that drive polymer organization and performance.

By integrating polymer crystal engineering, sustainable polymer chemsitry, and in-situ electron microscopy, we explore how soft matter can be controlled, patterned, and transformed to address critical challenges in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Drawing deep inspiration from nature's intricate structural designs, we combine fundamental polymer science with advanced imaging to design new materials and a better future.

Our current research spans three impact-driven areas.

Polymer Engineering       Sustainble Polymers    Imaging Innovation

                                                    

Close-up of layered, perforated materials.  A curved, rust-orange sheet with small holes overlaps a flat, white sheet with a grid pattern of small squares.  A third, barely visible sheet beneath also appears to have a grid pattern.
A fingerprint shape filled with small white and light green flowers and foliage.
Grayscale microscopic images of two Radiolarian skeletons, above a colorful, bubbly, reddish-pink foam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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