Research interests
Biopolymer liquid crystal condensates
Liquid condensed phases of macromolecules, from membraneless organelles to coacervates, are accelerating research areas in fields as diverse as cell biology and soft matter. We are particularly fascinated by droplets made of biopolymer filaments, actin, which have anisotropy that derive from the filament shape. These anisotropic liquids, called liquid crystals, form spindle-shaped droplets known as tactoids. This the most microscopic and scientific Clemson football! Among many things, we are interested in how the microstructure and composition influences the material properties of these intriguing liquid crystals.
Self-organization in active materials
We recently developed actin tactoids into a minimal model system that captures the key aspects of mitosis—self-organized center finding and division—using just four protein components! We are interested in how geometry, enzymatic activity, and material properties control self-organization of nanostructures in anisotropic droplets.
Active, shape changing materials
Inspired by molecular liquid crystals, where interactions with colloid inclusions can drive changes in the liquid crystal structure, we investigate colloids interactions with biopolymer tactoids. Using “active” colloids from biology, we recently created composite droplets which divide themselves into two equal droplets. We are interested in elucidating physical mechanisms that underlie shape change in confined, nano-structured materials such as composite and active droplets.
Polymers in nanoconfinement
Biological polymers in the cytoplasm and nucleus exist in densely crowded environments. We are developing new systems to investigate polymers in nanoconfinement, where the polymer dynamics and associated biophysical processes may have different behavior than in the absence of confinement.
Composite liquid crystals
Complex mixtures of macromolecules have rich phase behavior. We are particularly intrigued by mixtures of polymers with very different rigidities. We investigate the phase separation and how stresses propagate and relax in these complex fluids.