Nicholas L. Abbott
Research Interests
My technical interests revolve around colloidal and interfacial phenomena. They span fundamental issues related to the origins of colloidal interactions through to the application of chemically tailored interfaces in chemical and biological sensors, biomedical devices and separations processes. We have designed and synthesized a range of surfactants that incorporate molecular triggers (redox-active and light-sensitive groups) that permit reversible control of surfactant-based properties of aqueous systems. We are exploring their use in separations processes and for the delivery of biomolecules to cells. We are particularly interested in colloidal forces in liquid crystalline phases, and we have designed liquid crystalline interfaces that permit chemical and biomolecular events to be amplified into easily measured signals in sensors. A third area of interest is related to interfacial engineering of wound beds, including characterization of the chemical functionality of wounds and management of microbial burden in wounds so as to promote wound healing. These technical interests are unified by the challenge of understanding molecules and their assemblies at interfaces.
Education
Post doc., Chemistry, Harvard University (1991-1993)
PhD, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986-1991)
BSE, Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia (1982-1986)
Awards
Lectureship Award of Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, Chemical Society of Japan (2018)
Patten Distinguished Lecture, University of Colorado-Boulder (2018)
Reilly Lectures, University of NotreDame (2018)
6th Somer Lectures, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (2017)
42nd Annual Harry G. Fair Memorial Lecture, University of Oklahoma (2016)
The William H. Schwartz Lecture, The Johns Hopkins University (2016)
My technical interests revolve around colloidal and interfacial phenomena. They span fundamental issues related to the origins of colloidal interactions through to the application of chemically tailored interfaces in chemical and biological sensors, biomedical devices and separations processes. We have designed and synthesized a range of surfactants that incorporate molecular triggers (redox-active and light-sensitive groups) that permit reversible control of surfactant-based properties of aqueous systems. We are exploring their use in separations processes and for the delivery of biomolecules to cells. We are particularly interested in colloidal forces in liquid crystalline phases, and we have designed liquid crystalline interfaces that permit chemical and biomolecular events to be amplified into easily measured signals in sensors. A third area of interest is related to interfacial engineering of wound beds, including characterization of the chemical functionality of wounds and management of microbial burden in wounds so as to promote wound healing. These technical interests are unified by the challenge of understanding molecules and their assemblies at interfaces.
Education
Post doc., Chemistry, Harvard University (1991-1993)
PhD, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986-1991)
BSE, Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia (1982-1986)
Awards
Lectureship Award of Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, Chemical Society of Japan (2018)
Patten Distinguished Lecture, University of Colorado-Boulder (2018)
Reilly Lectures, University of NotreDame (2018)
6th Somer Lectures, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (2017)
42nd Annual Harry G. Fair Memorial Lecture, University of Oklahoma (2016)
The William H. Schwartz Lecture, The Johns Hopkins University (2016)
- Elected Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2016)
- ACS Award in Colloid and Surface Chemistry (2016)
- Harry Fair Memorial Lectureship at the University of Oklahoma (2016)
- Byron Bird Award (2015)
- Founders Lecturer, UCLA (2015)
- Hilldale Professorship (2014)
- Elected Member of National Academy of Engineering (2014)
- Pirkey Centennial Lectureship, University of Texas-Austin (2014)
- Amundson Lecture, University of Minnesota (2013)
- Alpha Chi Sigma Award of AIChE for Chemical Engineering Research (2012)
- Jeanne and Martin Sussman Lectureship, Tufts University (2012)
- Plenary Lecture, International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Perth, Australia) (2012)
- Kurt Wohl Memorial Lecture, University of Delaware (2011)
- Plenary Lecture, 11th European Conference on Liquid Crystals (Slovenia) (2011)
- Vilas Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- AAAS Fellow
- Technology Achievement Award, MIT Club of Wisconsin for Platypus Technologies LLC (2010)
- Charles M.A. Stine Award (AIChE) (2010)
- Guest Professor, Department of Materials, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zürich (2005 - 2006)
- Kellett Mid-Career Award of University of Wisconsin (2004)
- Lectureship Award of Japan Research Institute of Materials Technology (2003)
- Van Ness Lectures of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2002)
- Robert W. Vaughan Lectureship in Chemical Engineering at California Institute of Technology (2001)
- John T. Sobota and Magdalen L. Sobota Chair in Chemical Engineering (2001)
- Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (1998)
- ONR Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (1997)
- NSF CAREER Award (1995)
- David and Lucile Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering (1994)
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award (1992)
