Professor Blair elected APS Fellow
October 27th, 2025
Professor Dan Blair, Director of Graduate Studies, has been named Fellow of the American Physical Society, for the Division of Soft Matter Physics. Read more in the College story here.…
ISMSM Image(s) of the Month!
Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-based Matrix
This month’s featured image integrates results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and rheological measurements to illustrate how ascorbic acid (AA) alters the collagen matrix on multiple scales. The work provides new insights into the extracellular role of ascorbic acid in supporting the physical properties of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body and the foundation of bone and many other organ systems. Read more >>
Credit: GWNIC, ISMSM (Dr. Xinran Zhang) and Micaila Curtis
Read more: HERE
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Institute for Soft Matter News
Inside ISM’s Shared Soft Matter Facility at Georgetown University
October 8th, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) at Georgetown University is home to two state-of-the-art shared facilities designed to advance discovery in soft matter research. By opening these labs to academic collaborators, industry partners, and Georgetown scientists, ISMSM provides the tools, expertise, and collaborative environment needed to tackle challenges in materials science, physics, chemistry, and beyond.…
Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Matrix
October 3rd, 2025
A new study led by Micaila Curtis in collaboration with Dr. Xinran Zhang and the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) amongst others, titled “Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Matrix” and published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, reveals how Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the structure and mechanical integrity of collagen matrices—even in the absence of cells.…
ISM Day 2025 Brings Together Researchers Across Disciplines
September 26th, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISM) hosted ISM Day 2025 last week on Georgetown University’s Main Campus, bringing together scientists from across disciplines to share their work and spark new collaborations.…
Leah Chen: From Physics to Public Health, Bridging Science and Global Health at Georgetown
September 9th, 2025
When Leah Chen (C’25) first arrived at Georgetown, she wasted no time jumping into research. “First or second week of freshman year, I was emailing the head of the physics department about research opportunities, and then immediately got involved in the Van Keuren lab,” she recalled.…
Toretsky Named Inaugural Hyundai Hope on Wheels Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology
September 8th, 2025
(September 7, 2025) — In honor of his dedication to pediatric cancer research, Jeffrey A. Toretsky, MD, professor of oncology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, was formally named the…
Celebrating Excellence: 2025 ISM Ambassador Award Recipients
August 22nd, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) at Georgetown University is proud to recognize four outstanding members of our community: Leah Chen, Isabel Early, Eleni Hughes, and Charles Ochonma…
ISM Director Emanuela Del Gado Featured as Plenary Speaker at International Conference on Statistical Physics
July 23rd, 2025
This July, the global statistical physics community gathered in Florence, Italy, for the 29th edition of the International Conference on Statistical Physics (StatPhys29) a flagship event of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), held every three years. The 2025 meeting brought together over 1,500 researchers from across disciplines to explore the fundamental principles shaping complex systems, from quantum fluids to biological networks.…