About PI
BIOGRAPHY
Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba, Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry at Towson University, studies the nanoscale structure and self-assembly of natural and synthetic polymers using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. The fuller understanding gained from his work is important for the design and synthesis of polymers with improved material properties for future technological applications in chemical sensing, membrane separation or heterogeneous catalysis. He is also interested in studying protein structure, stability and folding using conventional and single-molecule techniques.
Dr. Tran-Ba received his B.S. in Material Sciences from Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany in 2008 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Kansas State University in 2015. Under the guidance of Prof. Takashi Ito and Prof. Daniel A. Higgins, he investigated the nanoscale structure and mass-transport characteristics of cylindrical microdomains in block copolymer films using single-molecule tracking. Prior to joining the faculty at Towson University, he worked as a postdoctoral research scientist in the laboratory of Prof. Laura J. Kaufman at Columbia University for three years. His postdoctoral research was focused on the structural and mechanical characterization of collagen fiber networks using simultaneous rheology and confocal microscopy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018 – Present: Assistant Professor, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, US
2015 – 2018: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, New York, US
Adviser: Prof. Laura J. Kaufman
Research Topic: ‘Characterization of the Physicochemical Properties of Biopolymer Gels Using Simultaneous Rheology and Confocal Microscopy’
2008 – 2009: Visiting Student, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, US.
Study Abroad Fellowship from Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
Adviser: Prof. Takashi Ito
Research Topic: ‘GaN Substrates as Solid-State pH-Selective Potentiometric Sensors’
EDUCATION
2009 – 2015: Ph.D. in Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, US
Advisers: Profs. Takashi Ito and Daniel A. Higgins
Thesis Title: ‘Single Molecule Diffusion Measurements for Material Characterization of 1D Nanoscale Polymer Films’
2005 – 2008: B.S. in Material Sciences, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
Graduated with Honors, Grade: 1.3 (excellent)
Adviser: Prof. Jürgen Janek
Thesis Title: ‘Electrochemical Behavior of Dissolved Metal Salts in Ionic Liquids’
HONORS, AWARDS & GRANTS
Seventeenth Jess & Mildred Fisher Endowed Chair in the Biological and Physical Sciences Award (2022 - 2025)
American Chemical Society - Petroleum Research Fund Grant (2022 - 2024)
Faculty Development & Research Committee Grant (2019 - 2020)
Towson Academy of Scholars Award (2019)