Scholarship and Biography
Ben and his research group aim to develop quantitative tools and design strategies to understand and control self-assembly at the colloidal length scale. Together they employ a strategy combining concepts from dynamic DNA nanotechnology, detailed measurements of emergent colloidal interactions, and simple models through which they seek to unravel and then reprogram self-assembly. Their current interests include elucidating the role of specificity in complex self-assembly, designing responsive nanoscale materials by controlling phase transitions in colloidal suspensions, and understanding how coupled chemical reactions give rise to active materials, which can move, organize, repair, or replicate. To achieve these goals, the group utilizes techniques from synthetic chemistry, optical microscopy, optical tweezers, statistical mechanics, and computer simulations.
Visit our group webpage to learn more: www.rogers-lab.com