Dr. Michelle Gaines

Our research is themed around examining the interfacial properties of soft materials. We create stimuli-responsive composites from nanostructured block copolymers, thermo-responsive hydrogels, and polymer colloidal microgel particles. These materials are used to study how nanostructural reversibility and phase behavior affect the desired functional properties of our synthesized materials and the interfacial behavior between other neighboring materials. Our goals are achieved by marrying Polymer Synthesis, Surface Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Cell Biology, & Microscopy.