Over the past ten years, my research group has focused on understanding the statistical mechanics of jammed particulate systems such as colloidal glasses and granular materials. Using a variety of computational and theoretical techniques, we have found many fascinating results for nonequilibrium systems that do not occur in thermal liquids and solids. Examples include the breakdown of equi-probability of microstates as in the microcanonical ensemble and strongly nonharmonic response of granular solids even for vanishingly small vibrations. In addition, we have shown that geometric and packing constraints often determine the key structural, mechanical, and dynamical properties of jammed systems. Recently, we have been investigating the role of packing constraints in determining biological structures and interactions. I will highlight our studies of the conformational dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins, the binding affinity of repeat proteins and their cognate peptides, and the size, shape, and mobility of epithelial cells in monolayers.
Tuesday, March 26
1PM, SPL 3rd Floor Graduate Lounge
Pizza!