Rachel A. Segalman

Rachel A. Segalman

NAE, AAAS
Edward Noble Kramer Professor
Department Chair and Professor, Chemical Engineering
Professor, Materials

Contact

(805) 893-3709
3353 Engineering II
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5070

Materials Research Areas: 

Honors: 

American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow of the American Physical Society
Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award
Centennial Lecturer, University of Texas
John H. Dillon Medal of the American Physical Society

Research Description: 

Structure control over soft matter on a molecular through nanoscopic lengthscale is a vital tool to optimizing properties for applications ranging from energy (solar and thermal) to biomaterials. For example, while molecular structure affects the electronic properties of semiconducting polymers, the crystal and grain structure greatly affect bulk conductivity, and nanometer lengthscale pattern of internal interfaces is vital to charge separation and recombination in photovoltaic and light emission effects. Similarly, biological materials gain functionality from structures ranging from monomeric sequence through chain shape through self-assembly. We work to both understand the effects of structure on properties and gain pattern control in these inherently multidimensional problems.

Education: 

B.S., University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara