The PGD group uses
experiments, molecular simulation, and theory to investigate the
relationship between molecular-level interactions and the
thermodynamic behavior of substances. Within this general
subject, we focus on the theory and engineering of metastable liquids,
network-forming fluids, and glass-forming (amorphous) materials. Our research
attempts to explain macroscopic phenomena using theoretical tools
like statistical mechanics, and has applications such as the
prevention of hydrate formation in natural gas pipelines and the
preservation of biologically active materials.
Note: for the personal
website of Pablo Debenedetti, which contains detailed information
regarding group research and past publications, please go
here.
03 Apr 08: Congratulations to Dr. Swaroop Chatterjee!
24 Jan 08: Congratulations to Dr. Bryan Patel! Can't wait for Reunions 2008!
Jan 08: New graduate student (co-advised with Thanos Panagiotopoulos): Yang Liu
6 Oct 07: Congratulations to former group member Tom O'Connor on his marriage to Brigitte Brunelle in Reston, Virginia. Pictures from the wedding can be seen here
Sep 07: Former grad student and now Professor Scott Shell begins teaching his first class, Grad Thermo, at UC-Santa Barbara. The rest of the group is certain that he'll do a great job, although he'll probably make way too many jokes about the excess entropy.
2 May 07: Congratulations to Jeff Errington and his wife on the birth of their daughter Lauren! Pictures can be seen here.
24 Apr 07: Congratulations to Dr. Tom O'Connor on his successful FPO! We'll be seeing you at graduation!
13 Apr 07: Congratulations to Yanfeng Zhang and his wife Chaochao on the birth of their daughter Michelle! Pictures can be seen here.
Jan 07: New graduate student (co-advised with Ilhan Aksay): Santiago Romero-Vargas Castrillon
10 Jul 06: Congratulations to group alum Melissa Wasserman and her husband Dan on the birth
of their son Elliot!