Polymer professor earns $360K NSF award to advance research on molecular self-assembly
Dr. Mesfin Tsige
Dr. Mesfin Tsige, professor in the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at The University of Akron (UA), has been awarded $360,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his project, “Decoding Macroion Self-Assembly and Solvation: A Multi-Scale Computational Approach to Self-Recognition.” This is the third consecutive NSF grant supporting Tsige’s research on the fascinating process by which very large, highly charged molecules known as macroions come together and organize themselves in water.
Working closely with his students and collaborator Dr. Tianbo Liu, professor of polymer science at UA, Tsige uses powerful computer models capable of tracking the motion of hundreds of thousands to millions of atoms. These simulations provide a window into how macroions recognize each other and assemble into striking “blackberry-like” clusters. The discoveries not only help interpret experimental results but also reveal new principles of molecular self-organization, advancing the fundamental science of how charged molecules interact in solution.
The impact of this research is far-reaching. On the scientific side, it deepens our understanding of self-assembly, a process central to chemistry, biology and materials science. On the practical side, these insights could guide the development of cleaner water technologies to remove pollutants, shed light on how biological molecules like proteins and DNA fold and function, and inspire innovative materials and nanotechnologies that build themselves through molecular interactions.
Just as importantly, the project is training the next generation of scientists. Graduate students, undergraduates, and even local high school students will have opportunities to take part in this cutting-edge research, gaining experience with advanced computer simulations and preparing to tackle the scientific challenges of the future.
About Dr. Mesfin Tsige
Tsige joined UA in 2010, where he is now a professor in the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Case Western Reserve University in 2001 and then conducted postdoctoral research at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to Akron, he was on the physics faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he achieved the rank of associate professor.
At Akron, Tsige’s research centers on interfacial science, with a particular emphasis on fundamental problems in diffusion, adhesion, wetting, self-assembly and rheology. His group uses a range of advanced simulation techniques, including molecular dynamics, coarse-grained modeling and quantum chemistry, to probe how complex molecular systems behave at surfaces and in solution. Since he moved to Akron, Tsige has secured more than a dozen grants from the National Science Foundation and other agencies to support his work. His studies advance fundamental science while also informing applications in clean water technologies, sustainable materials, and nanotechnology.
Tsige is also deeply committed to education and outreach. He directs the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site in Polymer Science and Engineering at UA, providing hands-on summer research opportunities for undergraduate students. He has also mentored many graduate students and high school students and is active in building international partnerships that expand access to science education (Bridging Borders: Empowering Ethiopia’s Next Generation of STEM Leaders).
RELATED CONTENT:
- See Tsige’s outreach in “Bridging Borders: Empowering Ethiopia’s Next Generation of STEM Leaders.”
- Learn more about the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.