S. Thai Thayumanavan

S. Thai Thayumanavan
Distinguished Professor in Chemistry

273 Physical Sciences Building
(413) 545-1313

Biological
Chemical Energy
Materials
NanoMaterials
Organic
Polymer self-assembly, responsive materials and their use in diverse applications including therapeutic delivery, sensing, and diagnostics
BSc, 1987; MSc, 1989, The American College, India; PhD, 1996, University of Illinois; Postdoctoral Fellow, 1996-99, Caltech
Principal Research Interests: 

We are interested in translating novel polymer-based molecular assemblies into innovative materials to make a lasting impact in biomedical and sustainability applications.  For example, we are developing fundamental guidelines on the structural features in molecular components of the assemblies that make the self-assembled materials predictably respond to a specific environmental change.   Such an understanding has far-reaching implications in a variety of areas, including therapeutic delivery, sensing and diagnostics.  The intellectual starting point of our work is the novel molecular design, which is often inspired either by a specific gap in the fundamental understanding of supramolecular assembly and diassembly events or by a specific societal or commercial need.