Abraham Ulman - US grants

GER-9554521 Ulman We are proposing a Graduate Research Traineeship Program in Optical Science and Engineering, in two strategic areas: materials for photonics, and for information storage applications. The Office of Science and Technology Policy has emphasized that materials synthesis and processing are critical technologies. Also, the U.S. Army and Air Force are supporting research in optical science and technology, especially in the two strategic areas proposed here. The trainees in this program will develop new materials for photonics applications and for digital image storage. Their research will be carried out at four levels: * Design and investigations of molecules;* Design and investigations of polymers;* Processing of polymers;* Device fabrication; Students will be involved in all research facets, and will interact with a number of faculty, and enjoy a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment. Theoretical work will be carried out in collaboration with Professor Shaul Mukamel at the University of Rochester. Investigations of Langmuir-Blodgett films will be carried out at the NSF Center for Photoinduced Electron Transfer, at the University of Rochester, in collaboration with Professor David Whitten. The trainees in this program could enter a PhD track in the Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Department at the Polytechnic University, and would be drawn from Chemistry and/or Chemical Engineering. The goals of the nonlinear optics part of program have been defined together with Dr. David Williams of Eastman Kodak Company, and training opportunities for the trainees at Kodak Research Laboratories, through summer employment, are now being discussed. Also included in this program are high school and undergraduate mentoring. Plans for recruiting trainees will emphasize underrepresented groups. Five students would be recruited for these traineeships and would complete their PhD programs in 5 years or less.

ABSTRACT
CTS-990992
A. Ulman Polytechnic U.

Model surfaces with molecularly controlled random roughness will be investigated, all based on the self-assembly of rigid thiols on gold surfaces with large atomically flat areas. The wetting properties of these molecularly rough surfaces will be studied using simple polymeric liquids; the adsorption of liquid crystalline molecules and of polymers to these surfaces will also be investigated.

The research is aimed at answering the following questions: (1) Can model surfaces be prepared wit molecularly designed roughness using self-assembly of rigid thiols of different molecular lengths? (2) Does critical molecular roughness exists, beyond which the wetting by simple and polymeric liquids is affected? (3) How does the wetting of rough surfaces by a polymeric liquid depend on molecular weight? (4) What is the relation between surface tension and surface roughness and how do they affect wetting? (5) How does adsorption depend on molecular roughness? (6) Can enthalpy be used as the driving force for engineering polymer surfaces using interactions with molecularly roughness surfaces?

A foundation will be established to start answering these questions in this one-year exploratory research program.

The involvement of students of any age in different phases of research can be a stimulating experience for both the scientist and the student. We propose to continue a program where cutting edge research is done in partnership of faculty with students starting from high school through the post doctorate. We believe that this arrangement can be beneficial for all participants. The faculty brings the excitement of original research into the classroom, providing role models and motivation for the students. Post doctoral and graduate students, who are heavily involved in the day to day research activities also learn teaching and mentoring skills through working with the undergraduate and high school students. Becoming involved in all phases of the research, undergraduate and high school students, learn first hand what is expected if they are to chose careers in science and engineering.
A central goal of the National Nanotechnology Initiative has recently been identified by an NSF report to be the ability to create "smart" and adaptable materials with atomic level precision and control in economically viable quantities that would "be of broad benefit to industry, economy, health, environment, and society". The report pointed to "our ability to achieve a better understanding of materials at dissimilar interfaces" as a key vehicle to attaining this goal. Polymers, which can be molecularly engineered on a macroscopic scale, while retaining nanometer scale precision, play a central role in attaining this goal. This proposal therefore has two research directions: Engineering biomimetic polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering and fundamental studies of cell mechanical transduction and the desing of self extinguishing polymer nanocomposites that can withstand extreme conditions. This proposal therefore has two interrelated goals; (a) Produce original and relevant research in biomaterials and nanocomposite polymer engineering ; (b) Allow for versatile training of students from high school, undergraduate, graduate through the post-doctorate to develop necessary skills for achieving professional careers in science and engineering.

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

The project is a renovation of laboratory space on the 8th floor of Rogers Hall, the main building of the Polytechnic University of New York (NYU-Poly). The renovation will provide a modern chemical synthesis facility comprised of three multi-person labs together with four smaller rooms providing shared research support services.. This will support the research program of the approximately one-year old Institute for Engineered Interfaces (IEI).

The Institute for Engineered Interfaces is an interdisciplinary unit with members from six NYU-Poly departments (Chemical and Biological Sciences, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Physics) and from the New York University Dental and Medical Schools. The design of the laboratory space is intended to promote collaboration between the different researchers. Research areas that will be explored in the renovated facility include: the design of biologically inspired materials and devices, bone growth, inflammation, cell adhesion, bioactive surfaces, biosensors, self-assembled monolayers, nanocomposites, and liposomes.

Within the new renovated shared space, researchers and students from diverse scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering will be able to carry out more complex investigations and interdisciplinary scientific research. Some of the results of the research to be conducted in the renovated labs could lead to improved technologies for medicine. Senior-level undergraduates and graduate students will be involved in research in the Institute, preparing undergraduates for both industrial employment and graduate studies. As part of NYU-Poly's interaction with a number of NYC schools and their science teachers, access to the laboratories will be provided for middle and high-school outreach activities. The renovated facility will also be used to provide high-school teachers with opportunities to participate in research over the summer.