Dr. Mingfei Zhao
Assistant Professor
Contact
- 3432 Science and Engineering Complex
- phone (205) 348-1727
Research Areas
Education
- B.S., Energy and Power Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Shandong University, 2012
- M.S., Power Engineering Thermodynamics (Mechanical Engineering), Shandong University, 2015
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, 2019
- Postdoc, Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 2022
- Postdoc, Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2024
Hierarchical self-assembly offers a pathway for the bottom-up creation of nanomaterials, granting specific structures and functions not easily achievable through top-down methods. Employing multiscale computational modeling proves to be an influential tool in comprehending and managing the intricate assembly processes across varying length and time scales. Dr. Zhaoʼs group aims to develop and use computational modeling tools in comprehending and steering self-assembly dynamics for rational design of advanced functional biomaterials.
Peptoids, recognized for their exceptional biocompatibility and stability, present promising avenues for applications in antimicrobials, drugs, and catalysts. Pioneering simulation endeavors from Dr. Zhaoʼs group have unveiled critical understandings of the structures and properties of peptoid-based nanomaterials. Some examples of current projects include: Some examples of current projects include: (1) molecular modeling of peptoid assembly for drug discovery and delivery, (2) mesoscale modeling of peptoid-grafted nanoparticle assembly for advanced nanofabrication, and (3) data-driven molecular design of functional biopolymers.
Affiliated Areas
Chemical and Biological Engineering, Poly-SM Research Center
Selected Publications
- Zheng, R., Zhao, M., Du, J., Sudarshan, T. R., … & Chen, C. L. Assembly of Short Amphiphilic Peptoids into Nanohelices with Controllable Supramolecular Chirality. Nature Communications. 2024, 15(1), 3264.
- Zhao, M., Zhang, S., Zheng, R., Alamdari, S., Mundy, C. J., Pfaendtner, J., … & Ferguson, A. L. Computational and Experimental Determination of the Properties, Structure, and Stability of Peptoid Nanosheets and Nanotubes. Biomacromolecules, 2023, 24(6), 2618-2632.
- Zhao, M., Lachowski, K. J., Zhang, S., Alamdari, S., Sampath, J., Mu, P., … & Ferguson, A. L. Hierarchical self-assembly pathways of peptoid helices and sheets. Biomacromolecules, 2022, 23(3), 992-1008.
- Zhao, M., Sampath, J., Alamdari, S., Shen, G., Chen, C. L., Mundy, C. J., … & Ferguson, A. L. MARTINI-compatible coarse-grained model for the mesoscale simulation of peptoids. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2020, 124(36), 7745-7764.
- Zhao, M., & Yong, X. Modeling evaporation and particle assembly in colloidal droplets. Langmuir, 2017, 33(23), 5734-5744
Awards and Honors
- FOMMS Early Career Researcher Award, US Department of Energy. (2022)
- Watson School’s Graduate Research Ambassador Award, Binghamton University. (2018)