Tsige’s Lab
Our research centers on the science of interfaces, where the most critical phenomena in polymers and soft condensed matter emerge. We are particularly interested in fundamental problems of diffusion, adhesion, wetting, self-assembly, and rheology, which govern material behavior across multiple length and time scales.
A major focus of our group is understanding and predicting self-assembly at interfaces and in solution, from block copolymers to complex architectures such as macroions and catenated polymers. We use molecular simulations to reveal the driving forces behind these processes and how they can be tuned to create functional nanostructures with applications in coatings, membranes, and sustainable materials.
We also investigate the elastic and failure behavior of thermosetting polymers, the dynamics of molecular transport through nanostructured materials, and the interaction of water with surfaces—problems that connect molecular-level phenomena with challenges in material design and environmental sustainability.
Through a combination of theoretical insight, advanced computation, and collaborations with experimental groups, our vision is to connect molecular-scale discoveries in interfacial science and self-assembly to the design of advanced, high-performance, and sustainable materials.