Archive:ISM Stories
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2025 ISM–NIST Fellows: Narayan Das and Ruth Crothers
The Institute for Soft Matter and Metrology (ISM) is pleased to welcome the 2025 ISM–NIST Fellows, Narayan Das and Ruth Crothers, whose research spans polymer mechanics, colloidal materials, and advanced measurement techniques.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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ISM Professor Dan Blair Contributes to $9M Multidisciplinary Naval Research Initiative
Professor Dan Blair, a member of Georgetown’s Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISM), is part of a newly funded $9 million Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) led by Virginia Tech and supported by the Office of Naval Research.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Recent Soft Matter Seminars Explore Lung Mechanics and Cellular Organization
ISM recently hosted two Soft Matter Seminars that showcased the breadth of soft matter research, from the mechanics of lung interfaces to the physical principles underlying gene regulation.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Welcoming Dr. Priyanka Joshi to the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology
ISM is pleased to welcome Dr. Priyanka Joshi as a new Institute member. Dr. Joshi is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology at Georgetown University Medical Center, where she directs the Laboratory of Biomolecular Homeostasis and Resilience.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Uric Acid Microspheres: Unexpected Architecture in Reptile Waste Reveals New Soft Matter Insights
A newly published study led by ISM member Prof. Jennifer Swift and collaborators, “Uric Acid Monohydrate Nanocrystals: An Adaptable Platform for Nitrogen and Salt Management in Reptiles,” explores the surprising nanostructure of uric acid waste produced by ball pythons.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Inside ISM’s Shared Soft Matter Facility at Georgetown University
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.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Matrix
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.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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ISM Day 2025 Brings Together Researchers Across Disciplines
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.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Leah Chen: From Physics to Public Health, Bridging Science and Global Health at Georgetown
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.
Categories: ISM Stories, News Story
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Student Highlight: Abhishek Bathina
Abhishek Bathina is currently a graduate student in Georgetown’s Physics Department. Bathina is working within the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) in the Del Gado lab group. He was recently awarded a $5,000 COMPASS grant to fund collaborative research with groups at the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California.
Category: ISM Stories