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Zvonimir Dogic

Assistant Professor of Physics
Ph.D., Brandeis University, 2001

Our research interests lie in elucidating rules that govern self-assembly of materials, with a particular emphasis being placed on the role the particle's shape and chirality play in these assembly processes.  We strive to create very simple model systems in which precise control is possible over all the relevant parameters.  This enables a rigorous and detailed comparison with theoretical predictions.  The particles we use have very simple hard core repulsive interactions.  Despite the apparent simplicity of these building blocks, we have demonstrated that through a careful choice of particle shape and chirality it is possible to assemble at least half a dozen unique structures.  By necessity our research is highly interdisciplinary.  To accomplish our goals, in addition to a host of experimental techniques, we also utilize theoretical statistical mechanics, computer simulations, biochemistry, various protein purification techniques and molecular cloning.

Sample of Recent Publications

E. Barry, D. Beller and Z. Dogic. "A model liquid crystalline system based on rodlike viruses with variable chirality and persistence length." Soft Matter (2009). (forthcoming)

E. Barry, Z. Dogic, R. B. Meyer, A. P. Pelcovits and R. Oldenbourg. "Direct measurement of twist penetration length in single smectic A layer of colloidal particle." J. Phys. Chem. B 113. (2009): 3910.

P. Huang, K. Addas, A. Ward, N. T. Flynn, E. Valesco, M. F. Hagan, Z. Dogic and S. Fraden. "Pair potential of charged colloidal stars." Phys. Rev. Lett. 102. (2009): 108302.

Z. Dogic and S. Fraden, “Ordered phases of filamentous viruses”, Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science 11, 47 - 55 (2006).

E. Barry, Z. Hensel, M. Shribak, R. Oldenbourg and Z. Dogic, “Entropy driven formation of a chiral liquid crystalline phase of helical filaments”,  Physical Review Letters, 96, 018305 (2006).

M. P. Lettinga, E. Barry and Z. Dogic, “Self-diffusion of rod-like viruses in the nematic phase”, Europhysics Letters, 71, 692, (2005).