Scholarship & Creative Activities Overview
Scholarship & Creative Activities Overview
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My research focuses on understanding the diffusion, structure and viscosity of colloids and biological molecules. I invoke concepts from fluid mechanics, statistical mechanics, and molecular biophysics to develop mathematical and computational tools to learn about the complex hydrodynamic and biochemical processes occurring inside living systems.
During my fourth year, I continue the collaboration with scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the fields of rheology, neutron scattering, and electro physiology. As part of this relationship, I was accepted again into the Visiting Faculty Program 2025 and 2024. As well student Megan Black and Laurel Washburn were accepted into the SULI program in the summer 2023 and two other (Devan Daley and Connor Vinson) were given the opportunity to conduct experiments at ORNL. During Fall 2025, I traveled to ORNL with student Megan Black to conduct neutron scattering and rheology experiments and to complete a rheology-related manuscript. In Spring 2026, I plan to finalize two additional manuscripts based on work performed at ORNL. I have also submitted for review a manuscript focused on theoretical modeling of yolk–shell particles. In addition, I have worked with several UTC students on rheology experiments involving bacterial suspensions and silica-based systems. Devan Daley and Connor Vinson presented their results at the 2025 SESAPS conference.
In addition, during my fourth year, I submitted again several grants applications. I applied for NSF LEAPS (Declined), Second time NSF Career (Pending), NSF Living Sytems (Pending), DURIP Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (Declined), CEACSE RISE (Declined), DOE Early Career (Declined ), Ralph Powe Junior Grant (Declined), UT Woman Alliance Grant (Declined), Faculty grants(Declined), Ruth S. Holmberg Grant (Declined), and 2 CAS travel(Funded), CAS Research (Funded), AI CAS (Funded), Faculty Grant (Funded) and 2 HIP grant(Funded). This year, I received multiple sources of support, including a Faculty Grant, CAS Travel Grant, CAS Research Grant, CAS AI Grant, and a HIP Grant. In addition, I obtained departmental and Quantum Center support for the acquisition of research equipment. The department supported the purchase of optical windows for the rheometer and materials needed to build a Raman spectrometer, while the Quantum Center supported the biophysics laboratory through the acquisition of an optical tweezers setup. Altogether, the combined support from these sources totaled approximately $50,000. I will continue to pursue both external and internal funding opportunities to secure resources that support the research training of physics students.
Regarding proposal reviews, the first NSF LEAPS proposal I submitted in 2024 was not reviewed because NSF staff were unable to secure appropriate referees. As a result, I withdrew the proposal and resubmitted it. The second NSF LEAPS submission was reviewed by five reviewers, receiving one Excellent, three Good, and one Poor rating, and the proposal was ultimately declined. Reviewer comments indicated that the research plan required clearer explanation and that the broader relevance of the study needed to be strengthened. I plan to revise and resubmit this proposal.
The NSF CAREER proposal submitted in 2024 was also declined, receiving Fair and Poor ratings from three reviewers. Feedback indicated insufficient demonstrated experience in the proposed research area and a lack of clarity regarding the project’s key contributions. I have carefully addressed and incorporated reviewer comments in the revised NSF CAREER 2025 and NSF Living Systems 2025 proposal submissions.
The DURIP proposal received generally positive reviews but was declined because the proposed project did not sufficiently align with Department of Defense priorities. The program officer encouraged resubmission with clearer alignment to DoD research objectives.
I intend to submit additional proposals in the coming year, incorporating reviewer feedback to strengthen both the research plans and their alignment with program priorities.
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