826 Natural Sciences Complex Department of Chemistry University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo, NY 14260-3000 Phone: (716) 645-6800, ext. 2237 Fax: (716) 645-6963 E-mail: jrzayev@buffalo.edu

Our research program embraces all the steps of a successful materials design, from building tailored polymer structures and architectures to analyzing their supramolecular organization and self-assembly to testing their final macroscale properties. The main thrust is centered around shape-persistent macromolecules as building blocks for nanoscale assemblies and functional materials. Our research efforts address ongoing challenges in the broad fields of nanotechnology and biomedical sciences, including nanodevice construction, DNA sequencing, drug delivery and molecular electronics. We develop novel synthetic methodologies and generate diverse libraries of unique polymeric structures that allow us to probe different aspects of molecular assembly and to fabricate materials with desired biological and electronic responses. The fundamental knowledge derived from the elucidation of structure-property relationships is applied to forge new avenues in rational materials design. Three specific areas of focus are organic nanotubes, ß-peptide-based materials, and semiconducting polymers. The multidisciplinary nature of the program allows students to acquire diverse synthetic and analytical skills and develop broad scientific vision.

Selected Recent Publications