Molecular biology permits custom programming of cells to carry out specific tasks, such as synthesis of specific biomolecules or modification of molecules in the extracellular environment. Further examples include formation of multicellular structures or sending chemical or optical signals in response to detection of specific molecules. The bacterium Escherichia coli, for which there exists a staggering array of genetic engineering methods and genomic data, is well suited for such tasks. Efforts at bioengineering of E. coli depend on understanding unresolved basic questions of the mechanisms underlying control of gene expression (i.e., modulation of which genes are expressed at any given time, largely through DNA-protein interactions on the chromosome) and metabolic processes (i.e., the biochemical reaction pathways through which the basic molecules of a cell are processed). The overall objective of this project is to biologically engineer bacterial cells, and design them to perform specific tasks and to produce specific materials. Two complementary projects focus on understanding mechanistic aspects of gene expression and metabolic processes in E. coli. Key strengths of the project are the complementary abilities of the collaborating groups in the areas of theoretical study of metabolic and genetic networks of E. coli, study of information in genetic sequences, theoretical and experimental study of protein-DNA interactions at the single-molecule level, experimental study of chromosome structure and function, and theoretical and experimental study of soft materials including supramolecular assemblies of biomolecules.

IRG 1 utilizes artificial intelligence to unravel the complexity of quantum materials and engineered systems. By developing AI-based tools, the group advances the rational design of materials for applications in energy harvesting, low-power electronics, quantum computing, and novel sensing technologies, addressing challenges in quantum phases and behavior.

Seed 6 will examine the molecular packing and efficient triplet harvesting in singlet fission. The work will identify both favorable and unfavorable molecular packing for singlet fission.

Principal Investigators
Greg Scholes (Chemistry)
Lynn Loo (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

* This seed is inactive.

Motivation and Impact

Harnessing the immense polyaminoacid complexity of nature and beyond without billions of years of evolution

Nature Inspired Materials

MOTIVATION:
Life is possible due to proteins: polyaminoacid macromolecules with exquisite folded nanostructure producing specific function that is encoded in the amino acid sequence.

KEY CHALLENGE:
Restricted toolbox of natural or mutated protein structures limits design of non-natural materials.

VISION:
Computational design to realize synthetic peptides that fold and assemble into rigid, protein-like building blocks to produce designed Nanostructure (Aim 1), Motion (Aim 2), and Simple Machines (Aim 3).

^{Saven, C. Kloxin, Pochan, and coworkers, “Polymers with controlled assembly and rigidity made with click-functional peptide bundles,” Nature 574 (2019): 658-662}

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Brown University supports an interdisciplinary research program on the mechanics of materials at the atomistic and microstructural level. The research is carried out in one interdisciplinary research group, with appropriate seed projects. Within the IRG one major thrust is the study of the effect of stress on the performance of electronic nanostructures and nanodevices. This research has potential impact on understanding how stress effects the design and performance of atomic scale sized lasers and electronic devices. The experimental results are modeled using the quasicontinuum model developed at Brown. The second thrust in the IRG is concerned with the investigation of the micromechanics of materials with complex microstructures. Emphasis is on the interface between two types of systems such as bicrystals of aluminum, aluminum alloy, and synthetic bimaterials. Computational techniques closely support the experimental efforts. The center is engaged in a variety of educational activities, notably the development aterials science teaching modules aimed at the high school level and the training of secondary teachers in use of the modules. The Center supports well maintained shared experimental facilities, which are accessible to outside users and also supports interactive efforts with industry and other sectors.

Glasses are ubiquitous across materials types and technological applications but their structure – property – processing relationships and underlying fundamental physics remain poorly understood. IRG 1 uses cross-fertilization of ideas and techniques from organic and inorganic glasses to address fundamental problems in glass science through the lens of stability. Glasses of the same composition can be created in states of widely varying thermodynamic and kinetic stability.

The IRG seeks to use these materials to develop fundamental stability-structure-property relationships for glasses. Efforts include establishing control over stability in organic and inorganic glasses; understanding the structures associated with varying states of stability; discovering the molecular nature of polyamorphism – the existence of two stable liquid states of the same substance; and determining the relationship between the structure and dynamics of liquids as they cool into the glassy state. The IRG integrates theory, simulations, and experiments to expand the range of ultrastable glassy materials and to enable new applications in areas as diverse as hard coatings and quantum information.

IRG-1 will develop the fundamental science needed to understand, describe, and predict interfacial phenomena in metals and ceramics with multiple principal elements. These so-called complex concentrated materials have been reported to have outstanding properties such as high strength, tailored band gaps, extremely large dielectric constants, and substantially reduced thermal conductivity, making them the next paradigm shift in structural and functional materials.

^{Fig. Interfacial Science of Complex Concentrated Materials}

This IRG’s interdisciplinary team will be the first to develop the core principles of microstructural engineering for complex concentrated materials, including fundamental investigations of atomic-level structure and chemistry, interfacial thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanical and functional properties. This foundational knowledge will then be used to design and synthesize materials with planned microstructures and properties.

The team provides complementary expertise in materials theory, computational materials science, processing science, advanced characterization, property measurement, and artificial intelligence to enable a complete study of interfacial behavior in complex concentrated materials. This IRG is expected to transform complex concentrated materials from laboratory curiosities into materials that alter our global economy in a variety of essential industries.

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) unites established senior and promising junior faculty from six departments and two other universities in a multidisciplinary program to address fundamental issues spanning a broad spectrum of materials research. The research mission of the Center is founded upon four Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs):
IRG-1: Engineered Multiblock Polymers implements powerful synthesis and processing strategies for advanced materials based on self-assembly of multiblock copolymers. These new materials may be used for controlled porosity membranes and drug delivery.
IRG-2: Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces is developing a comprehensive understanding of structure-property relationships in a new generation of electronic materials.
IRG-3: Magnetic Heterostructures explores spin transport, spin transfer torque, and novel highly polarized materials in precisely engineered heterostructures. This may lead to new magnetic memory devices and new paradigms in computation.
IRG-4: Nanoparticle-based Materials is creating environmentally benign nanoparticle-based materials for applications in luminescence and photovoltaics.

The UMN MRSEC manages an extensive program in education and career development. Center research activities are integrated with educational programs, providing interdisciplinary training of students and postdocs. The summer research program features four distinct efforts, two of which, Faculty-Student Teams; Native American Fellowships, target Tribal Colleges. The Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Research Experiences for Teachers programs also attract a significant population of female and underrepresented minority undergraduates to the University.

MRSEC faculty and student participate in numerous K-12 outreach activities that include a program of summer camps for high school students and working with the Science Museum of Minnesota in developing exhibits, providing demonstrations, and staffing booths.

The MRSEC is bolstered by a broad complement of over 35 companies that contribute directly to IRG research through intellectual, technological, and financial support in a collaborative and pre-competitive environment through the Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering (IPRIME) and the Center for Micromagnetics and Information Technologies (MINT). International research collaborations and student exchanges are pursued with leading research labs in Asia and Europe. The UMN MRSEC benefits from an extensive suite of materials synthesis, characterization and computational facilities.

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Cornell University supports interactive research in four interdisciplinary groups. The theme of the MRSEC is the understanding and control of materials at the nanostructural level. The Center supports an extensive program of research experience for undergraduates and a new program of outreach to pre-college students in upstate New York, including collaborative efforts with a local science museum. The Center will also support seed funding for exploratory research and emerging areas of materials science. The MRSEC supports enhanced collaboration with industry and extensive shared experimental facilities that also support research not directly funded by the MRSEC. As part of the Center's search for new materials, the molecular inorganic- organic composites group will focus on innovative approaches for preparing and characterizing novel nanoscale inorganic-organic molecular composites. The group studying thin films on glass proposes systematic studies of disordered surfaces and thin film deposition on glass. The research addresses a rich array of phenomena that are not currently understood, and has potential application for large area electronics, a growing segment of the communications and display industry. Thin film deposition by energetic ion and atom beams can alter thin film growth substantially, leading to new structures, new compositions, and smooth ultra-thin films with improved properties. This group seeks to understand the microscopic processes underlying these effects. Uniquely structured nanoscale materials that isolate a few defects (or even a single one) will be used by the metallic nanostructure group to elucidate fundamental issues arising from defects and impurities. Magnetic interactions, defects and impurities can produce dramatic effects in quantum systems. The Center currently supports about 35 senior investigators, 8 postdoctoral research associates, 12 t echnicians or other professionals, 36 graduate students, and 25 undergraduates. The MRSEC is directed by Professor John Silcox. %%% The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Cornell University supports interactive research in four interdisciplinary groups. The theme of the MRSEC is the understanding and control of materials at the nanostructural level. The Center supports an extensive program of research experience for undergraduates and a new program of outreach to pre-college students in upstate New York, including collaborative efforts with a local science museum. The Center will also support seed funding for exploratory research and emerging areas of materials science. The MRSEC supports enhanced collaboration with industry and extensive shared experimental facilities that also support research not directly funded by the MRSEC. As part of the Center's search for new materials, the molecular inorganic- organic composites group will focus on innovative approaches for preparing and characterizing novel nanoscale inorganic-organic molecular composites. The group studying thin films on glass proposes systematic studies of disordered surfaces and thin film deposition on glass. The research addresses a rich array of phenomena that are not currently understood, and has potential application for large area electronics, a growing segment of the communications and display industry. Thin film deposition by energetic ion and atom beams can alter thin film growth substantially, leading to new structures, new compositions, and smooth ultra-thin films with improved properties. This group seeks to understand the microscopic processes underlying these effects. Uniquely structured nanoscale materials that isolate a few defects (or even a single one) will be used by the metallic nanostructure group to elucidate fundamental issues arising from defects and impurities. Magnetic interactions, defects and impurities can produce dramatic effects in q uantum systems.

The Material Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Arizona State University supports research on the synthesis of new families of materials, with a focus on the synthesis of materials at high pressures. The research combines experimental and theoretical studies to predict the stability, properties, and appropriate pressure range for the synthesis of novel target phases of nitride glasses, oxide perovskites, carbon nitrides, and chalcogenides. Additional research efforts address the process of vitrification in amorphous materials and the synthesis and characterization of epitaxial nitride films. The MRSEC supports shared experimental facilities for materials research, exploratory research through seed funding, and collaborations with industry and other academic institutions. Educational outreach programs include development of educational modules on materials science for middle school students and a collaborative research program with the College of Eastern Utah. The Center supports 13 senior investigators, 4 postdoctoral research associates, 12 graduate students, 1 technician, and 5 undergraduates. The MRSEC is directed by Prof. Paul McMillan. %%% The Material Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Arizona State University supports research on the synthesis of new families of materials, with a focus on the synthesis of materials at high pressures. The MRSEC supports shared experimental facilities for materials research, exploratory research through seed funding, and collaborations with industry and other academic institutions. Educational outreach programs include development of educational modules on materials science for middle school students and a collaborative research program with the College of Eastern Utah. The Center supports 13 senior investigators, 4 postdoctoral research associates, 12 graduate students, 1 technician, and 5 undergraduates. The MRSEC is directed by Prof. Paul McMillan.