(2ft) Stimuli-Responsive Complex Fluids and Anisotropic Materials

Complex fluids and anisotropic materials play a vital role in driving advancements across various fields in engineering. These materials offer distinct properties and functionalities that are tailored to specific needs, opening up valuable opportunities for designing, developing, and optimizing engineering systems. In my laboratory, we will pursue a bottom-up approach to investigate dynamics, transitions, self-assembly, and collective states of complex fluids and anisotropic systems, with a particular focus on liquid crystalline materials. Liquid crystalline materials possess a unique combination of fluid-like mobility and solid-like anisotropy, making them exceptionally promising for engineering novel hierarchical and non-equilibrium structures for a broad range of applications, including sensing, photonics, drug delivery, and the development of smart systems.

Research Interests

Proposal I – Non-equilibrium states in complex environment

Understanding and harnessing non-equilibrium states is crucial for developing advanced materials and devices with tailored functionalities. By leveraging the dynamic response and unique properties of non-equilibrium states in liquid crystalline materials, engineers can design innovative systems for applications in fields such as displays, optics, and sensors. In my research group, we will specifically focus on studying the dynamics, structural transitions, and non-equilibrium states of liquid crystalline materials within complex microfluidic environments, droplets, and emulsions. Our focus will be on comprehending how these materials and states respond to pressure and acoustic stimuli, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between confinement, flow, and acoustic stimuli. The research will contribute to the advancement of liquid crystal-based technologies, enabling the creation of more efficient and versatile devices with applications in diverse areas such as displays, optics, sensors, and beyond.

Proposal II – Assemblies in anisotropic soft materials

Assemblies and foreign inclusions have significant implications for engineering, offering opportunities to enhance material properties, introduce new functionalities, and manipulate material behavior. Liquid crystalline materials, in particular, have attracted attention due to their ability to direct the assembly of topological defects and colloidal particles into various patterns. In my research group, we will focus on controlling assemblies in liquid crystalline materials by employing techniques involving sound and surface morphology. Utilizing advanced nanolithography methods and acoustic stimuli, we will investigate and manipulate the underlying mechanisms of liquid crystalline hierarchical structures. These structures can have the potential to be applied in diverse areas such as water purification, functional coatings, actuators, and camouflaging technologies.

Proposal III – Active-like systems under acoustic stimuli

Active systems play a vital role in engineering, providing dynamic and controllable functionality that drives advancements in various fields. The influence of acoustic stimuli on these active systems opens up new possibilities for enhancing their performance and exploring novel applications. An intriguing research area in this context is the integration of living bacteria, cells, and active droplets into liquid crystalline materials under the influence of acoustic stimuli. This unique combination holds immense potential, particularly in the field of biomedical engineering. By precisely manipulating the active system using acoustic stimuli, engineers can leverage its capabilities for targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biosensing applications.

Teaching Interests

Throughout my academic journey, I have come to understand the importance of effective teaching and impactful mentorship. It is a role that holds the power to shape, inspire and empower students to reach their fullest potential. I have had the privilege of mentoring and tutoring graduate and undergraduate students from diverse programs such as physics, biology, molecular engineering, and chemical engineering. In the past, I have mentored two graduate students and two undergraduate students, providing guidance and support in their academic and research endeavors. I have come to realize that nurturing the intellectual growth of students and guiding them towards success is a deeply rewarding endeavor. I am committed to continue dedicating myself to this noble profession and help students pursue their personal and academic goals and achieve remarkable success.

Background

I received my Ph.D. in Physics in 2019 from the University of Maribor, Slovenia, under the supervision of Prof. Uros Tkalec. My graduate work focused on the optical and thermal effects of liquid crystalline materials in flow. In parallel, I also worked as a young researcher at the Medical Faculty in Slovenia, collaborating with the Institute Jacques Monod in France, to explore the application of nano/microfluidics-based approaches to biological systems. I then moved to the University of Chicago to join Prof. Juan de Pablo’s group to receive advanced training and developed a unique perspective on translating scientific discoveries into engineering solutions and new technologies. My research has focused on investigating the effects of external stimuli on liquid crystalline materials and developing experimental techniques to control the self-assembly of various liquid crystalline systems and tailor their physical properties for future optical technologies.

My academic journey and research experiences have equipped me with a strong background in liquid crystalline materials, optical effects, acoustics, nano/microfluidics, and the practical application of scientific knowledge in engineering. I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of knowledge in these areas and contributing to the development of innovative solutions and technologies.