UMass Amherst

Gregory N. Tew

Associate Professor, Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering
A617 Conte, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-9292
(413) 577-1612
tew@mail.pse.umass.edu
http://www.pse.umass.edu/gtew/index.html

Antimicrobial Polymers, Bio-Materials, Molecular Self Organization

The use of synthetic chemistry methods to assemble macromolecules designed to be chemically rich. Many of the designs are inspired by biological systems and cover topics including: molecules programmed to adopt secondary and tertiary structure, development of proteomimetics, polymers for biomedical applications, conjugated structures, and supramolecular polymer science. Our synthetic method toolbox includes modern techniques like ring-opening and controlled-living radical polymerizations to more traditional palladium catalyzed polycondensation, anionic, and free radical reactions. In addition to macromolecular synthesis and characterization, these novel macromolecules are characterized by a variety of physical methods including area-pressure isotherms, electronic spectroscopy, X-ray scattering, rheology, and microscopy.

Honors and Awards

  • National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2005
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2004
  • Army Research Office Young Investigator, 2004
  • DuPont Young Faculty Grant, 2004
  • Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, 2003
  • 3M Nontenured Faculty Award, 2002

Publications

  1. T.V. Jones, R. A. Blatchly, G. N. Tew, “Synthesis of Alkoxy-Substituted Ortho-Phenylene Ethynylene Oligomers,” Org. Lett. 5, 3297-3299, (2003).
  2. K. Aamer, H. A. Sardina, S. Bhatia, G. N. Tew, “Rheological Studies of PLLA-PEO-PLLA Triblock Copolymer Hydrogels,” Biomaterials, 25, 1087-1093, (2004).
  3. K. J. Calzia, G. N. Tew, “Methacrylate polymers containing metal binding ligands for use in supramolecular materials: Random copolymers containing terpyridines,” Macromolecules, 124, 6090-6093, (2002).
  4. D. J. Stigers, G. N. Tew, “Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s with Carboxylic Acid Functions in the Side Chain,” Biomacromolecules, 4, 193-195, (2003).
  5. L. Arnt, G. N. Tew, “New Poly(phenylene ethynylenes) with Cationic, Amphiphilic Structure,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 7664-7665, (2002).