Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers Into Particles and Gels: Model Biomaterials
Research explores self-assembling block copolymers for drug delivery nanoparticles and gels, aiming to establish structure-property guidelines for advanced biomaterials.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $82,764/year with $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship supporting experimental research on self-assembling block copolymers for drug delivery nanoparticles and thermoreversible gels to develop structure-property guidelines for advanced biomaterials.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; research conducted onsite at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; specialized methods include light scattering and neutron scattering.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focused on the self-assembly of block copolymers and tri-block copolymers into particles and gels, serving as model biomaterials. The research aims to experimentally characterize macromolecules with novel chain architectures in multicomponent aqueous solutions, emphasizing control of hydrophobic interactions to tune self-assembly behavior.
The materials studied form well-defined polymer nanoparticles suitable for drug encapsulation and thermoreversible gels for site-directed self-assembly. The goal is to establish structure-property relationships that guide the design of next-generation synthetic biomaterials with specialized properties such as size, shape, viscosity, elastic modulus, and drug loading capacity.
Advanced experimental techniques available include static and dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. This research supports the development of improved measurement methods and validation of modern theory and simulations to meet rigorous clinical, toxicological, and regulatory standards for biomaterials.
