Computational and Theoretical Research in Polymer and Soft Matter
GE group aims to elucidate the microscopic origin of macroscopic behaviors of various polymer and soft matter systems. The goal is achieved through the combination of molecular simulations and theoretical modeling. The research is integrated with cutting-edge synthesis and characterization experiments and stretched to promote interdisciplinary applications of fundamental knowledge. Topics currently investigated include (1) the effects of polymer topology on the thermodynamics, rheology, and mechanics of polymeric materials [1-3], (2) the transport of nanoscale objects in complex polymeric environments [4, 5], as well as (3) the scale-bridging physics in the large deformation and fracture behavior of thermoplastics, elastomers, and gels [6, 7].
Keywords: soft matter, polymer physics,
computational physics, molecular simulation
[1] "Molecular Simulations Revealing Effects of Non-concatenated Ring Topology on Phase Behavior of Symmetric Diblock Copolymers", A. Wijesekera, D. Vigil, and T. Ge, Macromolecules 57, 5092 (2024).
[2] “Superstretchable elastomer from cross-linked ring polymers”, J. Wang, T. C. O’Connor, G. S. Grest, and T. Ge, Physical Review Letters 128, 237801 (2022).
[3] “Crazing reveals an entanglement network in glassy ring polymers”, J. Wang and T. Ge, Macromolecules 54, 7500 (2021).
[4] “Scaling Perspective on Dynamics of Nanoparticles in Polymers: Length- and Time-Scale Dependent Nanoparticle-Polymer Coupling”, T. Ge, Macromolecules 56, 3809 (2023), Invited Perspective Article.
[5] “Force-driven active dynamics of thin nanorods in unentangled polymer melts”, S. Zhang, J. Wang, and T. Ge, Soft Matter 18, 6582 (2022), Emerging Investigator Collection.
[6] "Polymer Thin Film Necking: Ductility from Entanglements and Plane Stress Condition", S. Zhang, Z. Cao, X. Gu, and T. Ge, Macromolecules 57, 6221 (2024).
[7] “Effects of Coarse-Graining on Molecular Simulation of Craze Formation in Polymer Glass”, J. Wang, P. J. in’t Veld, M. O. Robbins, and T. Ge, Macromolecules 55, 1267 (2022).
The Team
Postdoctoral researchers, graduate, undergraduate, and pre-college students are welcome to join the team and participate in research projects at different levels. Interested viewers of this webpage, please email the PI.
Dr. Ting Ge
Principal Investigator
Email: tingg@mailbox.sc.edu Full CV
Ting Ge graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China with B. S. in 2007. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Johns Hopkins University in 2013, under the supervision of the late Prof. Mark O. Robbins (Memory of Orchids). Subsequently, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, first at UNC-Chapel Hill and then at Duke University, supervised by Prof. Michael Rubinstein (Story of the Ugly Duckling). Ting joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty at the University of South Carolina as an assistant professor in January 2020. He has been recognized with the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (FY2023), Doctoral New Investigator research grant from ACS Petroleum Research Fund (FY2023), and as Soft Matter Emerging Investigator from RSC (2022). His long-time interest, and sometimes urgent need, is "Making Ends Meet".
For a list of publication, see Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=52DPu84AAAAJ&hl=en
For what's happening, check Twitter @ TingGe15
For a peek into iPhone photos, check IG @getphysics
https://www.instagram.com/getphysics/
Siteng Zhang
Graduate Student (2021 -)
Email: siteng@email.sc.edu
B.S., 2017, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China
M.S., 2019, University of Akron
2022, University of South Carolina Graduate Travel Award
2023 - , Member of ACS PMSE Student Chapter @ Univ. of S. C.
Andrew Wijesekera
Graduate Student (2021 -)
Email: wijeseka@email.sc.edu
B.S., 2019, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
2023, University of South Carolina Graduate Travel Award
2023, Recipient of Advancing Science Conference Grant
at the 50th Annual NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers) Conference
Former Team Member
Yishayah Bension
Graduate Student
(2019 - 2024, Co-advised with Prof. Chuanbing Tang)
B.A. and B.S., 2017, Case Western Reserve University
2022, J. R. Durig Graduate Student Travel Award
2023, President of ACS PMSE Student Chapter @ Univ. of S. C.
Former Team Member
Dr. Jiuling Wang
Postdoctoral Researcher (2020 - 2021)
B.E., 2010, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Ph.D., 2017, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science
2022, Distinguished Young Scholars of
the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Overseas)
Former Team Member
Michael Shimizu
Student Intern (Summer 2020 and Summer 2021)
2020, Dreher High School, Columbia, SC
2020 - 2024, Cornell University
Teamwork
Education & Outreach
Undergraduate Teaching
Chem541 Physical Chemistry
- Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Graduate Teaching
Chem739 Topic - Physical Chemistry of Polymer
Summer Graduate Enrichment Program
- Tutorial on Molecular Simulations using LAMMPS
Summer Outreach
South Carolina site of ACS Project SEED program
- Adding virtual and computational components
List of Mentees
Kennedy Corbin
2021, Spring Valley High School, Columbia, SC
Brianna Osisioma
2022, South Gibson County High School, Medina, TN
Madelyn Mendez-Pelaez
2023 and 2024, Airport High School, West Columbia, SC
South Carolina Governor's School for Science + Mathematics - Summer Student Research
List of Mentees: Renan Yilmaz (2024)
Team Base
Address
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
University of South Carolina
Horizon-I Building, 541 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Links to local community
Horizon Polymer Groups
(Benicewicz, Tang, Stefik, and Chen)
High Performance Computing Cluster Hyperion