
Prof. Bartosz A. Grzybowski grzybor@northwestern.edu Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Chemistry 2003 Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award
2006 NSF CAREER Award
2006 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award
2006 Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences
2006 ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry Unilever Award
2007 Sloan Fellowship
2007 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
2008 Gerhard Kanig Biannual Award for Innovation (Berliner-Branderburgischer Verband für Polymerforschung, Germany)
7/2001—7/2003 Director of Research, Concurrent Pharmaceuticals and Associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University 8/2000—7/2001 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University (with G.M. Whitesides) 9/1995—8/2000 PhD, Harvard University (Physical Chemistry, with G.M. Whitesides) 9/1991—6/1995 BS/MS, Yale University (Physical Chemistry, with P.H. Vaccaro) Summa cum Laude (1995)
Honoris in Chimia (1995)
Arthur Fleischer Award for Outstanding Performance in Chemistry (1995)9/1990—6/1991 University of Gdansk, Poland President’s Award for Academic Excellence(1991)
Governmental Award for Young Researchers (1988-1991)
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering | McCormick School of Engineering
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Prof. Bartosz A. Grzybowski, Assoicate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, Illinois 60208
PI Phone: 847/491.3024 Group Phone: 847/491.3969 (lab) 847/467.0116 (office)
Fax: 847/491.3728 E-mail: Webmaster
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© 2007 Northwestern University
Post Doctoral Fellows
Bartlomiej Kowalczyk
Warsaw (Poland)Ph.D. (2005)
Main Research Areas:
Investigation of electrostatic interactions and self assembly of oppositely charged metallic nanoparticles.
Mixtures of NPs coated with oppositely charged SAMs precipitate sharply at the point of overall electroneutrality. This phenomenon allows for studying thermodynamics of surface reactions and determination of surface composition of mixed-SAM NPs by electrostatic titrations with “standard” NPs.
Moreover, such electroneutral mixtures of NPs can be assembled into diamond lattice crystals.![]()
Collaborating Professors
Prof. Alexander Z. Patashinski
Research Professor, Materials Research Center, Northwestern University (Current)
Professor of Budker Nuclear Physics Institute, Novosibirsk
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Ph.D.
Advising on numerous projects in the group ranging from electrostatics of nanoparticles to cell dynamics.
Yanhu Wei
Shanxi (P. R. China)Brown University, Ph.D., Chemistry (2006)
Institute of Physical & Chemical Tech, The Chinese Academy of Science, M.S. (1998)
Beijing University of Chemical Technology, B.S. (1992)Main Research Areas:
Nanoscience, Biophysics, Surface Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, Organic Molecular Devices and Self Assembled Monolayers
Konstantin V. Tretiakov
Institute of Molecular Physics Polish Academy of Science, Ph.D., Computational Physics (2000)
Main Research Areas:
Statistical physics and computer simulation of many body systems, with research focusing on non-equilibrium self-assembling systems, transport properties of soft-matter, elastic properties of solids in particular materials exhibiting negative Poisson's ratio.
Kristiana Kandere-Grzybowska
Riga (Latvia)Tufts University Medical School (Boston, MA), Ph.D. Biochemistry (2003)
The College of Saint Rose (Albany, NY), B.A. Biology/ Chemistry (1998)Main Research Areas:
• intracellular/ cytoskeleton dynamics and cell motility in defined geometrical confines;
• regulation of focal adhesions by microtubule plus ends in breast cancer migration.
Graduate StudentsHideyuki Nakanishi
Kyoto (Japan)Kyoto Institute of Technology, Ph.D., Macromolecular Science and Engineering (2007)
Kyoto Institute of Technology, M.S., Polymer Science and Engineering (2004)
Kyoto Institute of Technology, B.S., Polymer Science and Engineering (2002)
Main Research Areas:
Polymer Science and Engineering
- Polymer Blends, Polymerization Reaction, Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs), Reaction-induced Phase Separation
Kyle Bishop
Charlotte, North CarolinaUniversity of Virginia, BSChE (2003)
Main Research Areas:
Reaction-diffusion systems, complex networks and nanoscale self-assembly.
My research focuses on the development of model, experimental DySA systems (e.g., DySA via dynamic surface tension, magneto-hydrodynamic DySA, and DySA of photoswitchable nanoparticles), which are designed for use as test-beds for the development of new theories of DySA. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of universal principles governing the processes of dynamic self-assembly on length scales from molecular to macroscopic.
Rafal Klajn
M.Sc. in Chemistry, Warsaw University (2004)
Main Research Areas:
Nanoscience, organic chemistry
In my research work, I attempt to guide self-assembly of nanosized objects using light. Metal nanoparticles decorated with photoresponsive groups are assembled into various suprastructures, including spherical assemblies of different sizes, as well as supercrystals. The latter can be either permanent or metastable, building themselves and disassembling depending on light stimulus (link). Of these structures, supraspheres have so far turned out to be most useful. Taking advantage of their plastic properties, I use them as building blocks for unusual macroscopic materials which combine mechanical properties of plasticine with electrical properties of a metal, and have been dubbed "metal wax" (link).
Paul Wesson
Milwaukee, WIUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S., Chemical Engineering, (2003)
Main Research Areas:
The major focus of my research is electrostatic self-assembly of electronic devices, where patterned microgradients in the electric field above a surface cause shaken components to migrate to specific locations on that surface. My other scientific interests include developing a method to determine protein-ligand binding constants without fluorescent signals, and determining the theoretical limit of discernable feature size in reaction-diffusion systems for continuous and periodic precipitation reactions.
Goher Mahmud
Minneapolis, MNUniversity of Minnesota, B.S., Chemical Engineering and
Minor in Chemistry (2005)Main Research Areas:
I am interested in cell dynamics and bio-inspired dynamic self-assembly. My research involves work from the CCNE NIH grant on deconstructing directional cell motility in metastasis through nano-patterning.
I enjoy reading Renaissance history, speaking 5 languages, and watching C-SPAN2 BookTV. I hope to one day win a Nobel Prize, build a school in every country of the world, and own the Minnesota Twins.Siowling Soh
SingaporeNational University of Singapore, B.S., chemical engineering (2001)
Main Research Areas:
I am interested primarily in dynamic self-assembly systems, the dynamic structure of cell cytoskeleton and cell motility and the modeling of reaction diffusion systems.
Sabil Huda
North Carolina State University, B.S., Chemical Engineering, (Cum Laude) May 2006
Main Research Areas:
Bio-nano colloidal interactions.
Nanoparticles, because of their small size, large surface area and ability to bind various ligands, have a variety of uses from micro-assays to anti-bacterial coatings and drug delivery. I am interested in studying these interactions between nanoparticles and biomolecules.
Research and Publications
Mario M. Apodaca
Garden Grove, CACalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills, B.S. Chemistry (2006)
Main Research Areas:
I am interested in bio-inspired materials and research at the inteface of biology, chemistry, and physics. Currently working on contact electrification.
(m-apodaca@northwestern.edu)Chris Wilmer
University of Toronto, BASc in Engineering Science (Nanoengineering Option) (2007)
Main Research Areas:
I am interested in the theory of static and dynamic self-assembly. Of particular importance is the inverse problem of self-assembly and determining the class of such problems that are solvable. Such an accomplishment would allow one to choose, rather than discover, useful self-assembled structures and thus facilitate rapid acceleration of research and development in the field of nanotechnology. Other interests include: nanostructured materials, nanomotors and molecular machines.
Jiwon Kim
Seoul (Korea)
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea, B.S. in Chemistry (2006)
Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea,Graduate School in Chemistry (2006-2007)Main Research Areas:
I am interested in making nanomaterials which have a wide range of functional applications, including optical, electronic and catalytic materials.

Eric Young
Panama City (Panama)
Loyola University Chicago, B.S., Biology, (2007)
Northwestern MBP studentMain Research Areas:
I am interested in researching the motility of cells with the use of micropatterned tracks and islands. The use of micro contact printing on gold surfaces with regions of cell-adhesive and cell-resistant monolayers enables one to study the mechanism of cell motility and more.
Steven Chen
Northwestern University, B.S., Biomedical Engineering (specializing in biotechnology and biomaterials)
Main Research Areas:
Stabilizing copper nanoparticles and utilizing them to develop an anti-fungal paint that will prevent mold growth in home located in humid area.

Marta Byrska
Krakow (Poland)
M.Sc. in Biology/Biochemistry (2007), Jagiellonian University
Main Research Areas:
I am interested in the mechanism of cell motility and how it relates to cancer metastasis. Understanding these processes at the molecular level will be useful for anti-cancer drug design.