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Professor Siddhartha Das, a faculty member in the University of Maryland’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been recognized as a Pioneering Investigator by Chemical Communications, a top-ranked journal in the field of chemistry and chemical sciences.
The recognition came in response to the article co-authored by Raashiq Ishraaq, demonstrating the findings from Das in the article, “All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of polymer and polyelectrolyte brushes.” This research work has utilised sophisticated simulations of molecular dynamics in order to track properties of the brushes that are difficult to observe experimentally.
“By employing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we are able to study behaviors and properties that otherwise would elude researchers,” Das said. “We have great confidence that this avenue of research will open up avenues to exciting real-world applications.”
Das’s research work focuses on toothbrush-like chains of polymers or polyelectrolytes that can be used to “functionalize” surfaces—that is, apply them to some use. These tiny brushes, ranging in size from a few nanometers to a few micrometers, can be utilized in applications that include sensing, diagnostics, current rectification, surface wettability modification, drug delivery, and oil recovery.
A UMD faculty member since 2014, Das has published more than 193 journal papers, including in ACS Nano, Advanced Materials, Matter, Nature Communications, and Soft Matter.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and also of the Royal Society of Chemistry, which publishes Chemical Communications. In July 2022, he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), based in the United Kingdom.
