David A. Hoagland

Degree Information:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 1980
M.A. Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1981
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1986

Mailing Address:
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
Room A513, Conte Research Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
120 Governors Drive
Amherst, MA 01003

Phone: 413-577-1513

Email: dah@neurotica.pse.umass.edu

Fax: 413-577-1510

Research Interests:
Polyelectrolytes, Confined Polymers, Aqueous Gels, Water-Soluble Polymers, Polymer Separations and Characterization, Polymer-Surfactant Interactions, Polymer-Based Sensors of Water-Quality, Single Molecule Techniques in Polymer Physics, Aqueous Assembly of Polymer Structure.

Current Research:
Efforts focus on polymer solutions and gels, especially on the unique dynamics and interactions these structurally rich materials offer. Interest may center on low molecular weight solutes (ions, drugs, etc.), polymeric solutes (synthetic polymers, DNA, etc.) or molecules of the medium itself (solvent, network chains, etc.) Often, there is a coupling of time or length scales that creates interesting physical processes, as for example, when a flexible polymer diffuses through a small pore (coupling of length scales) or unravels in a turbulent flow (coupling of time scales). The displayed fluorescence images reveal the Brownian motion of a single DNA molecule (darker) trapped between interconnected spherical cavities (lighter). The preponderance of the group’s work is experimental, but almost always the final step compares measurements to theoretical predictions. Analysis of the DNA images, for instance, reveals the partition coefficient, quantifying a preference of the molecule for the larger cavity. Many projects probe the electrostatically dominated behaviors of highly charged polymers (polyelectrolytes). Technologies such as polymer separations, sensors, and rheology immediately benefit from the group’s research results.

Honors and Distinctions:

Sigma Chi Distinguished National Lecturer, 2004-2005
Fellow, American Physical Society, 2003
Director- Light Scattering Facility
The OMNOVA Solutions Foundation Signature University Award for Outstanding Research, 2000
Organizing Committee, International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes, 2004
IBM Faculty Development Award, 1986
Co-coordinator of the MRSEC’s IRG III, Aqueous Polymer Assembly
Invited Speaker: Gordon Conferences on Polymers (2x), Polymer Physics, Membranes, Scattering and Macromolecular Solutions, and Ion-Containing Polymers (2x); APS March Meeting (2x); International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterization (2x); Heraeus Conference on Nano-Physics of DNA; John Ferry Symposium; ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry; Telluride Workshop on Polymer Theory vs. Polymer Experiment (2x); Electrophoresis Society Annual Meeting; AIChE Annual Meeting