Matthew Helgeson
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering
Contact
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Neutron Scattering Society of America Science Prize; Van Ness Award Lectures at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Allan P. Colburn Memorial Lectureship, U of Delaware; Unilever Award, American Chemical Society; Hellman Foundation Faculty Fellowship; Early Career Award, Department of Energy; Excellence in Teaching Award, Northrop Grumman; Early Career Award, National Science Foundation; Distinguished Young Rheologist Award, TA Instruments; Victor K. LaMer Award, American Chemical Society; National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship; McCullough Award, Delaware Center for Composite Materials; Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Delaware; Neutron Scattering Society of America Student Prize; First Prize, SoftMatt Research Conference; Progress Award, Delaware Center for Composite Materials; University Graduate Fellows Award, University of Delaware; Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research, ACS POLY; Robert L. Pigford Fellowship, University of Delaware; McCabe Society, Carnegie Mellon University; Tau Beta Pi, Pennsylvania Gamma Chapter
Research
Helgeson's research is devoted to the design and processing of complex fluids, especially those involving colloidal species (nanoparticles, emulsions, proteins, etc.) in self-assembling & structured liquids. Specifically, the group seeks to understand how well-specified mesostructure can be obtained in these fluids, and how it can be used to control the mechanical and transport properties of soft materials. Their approach involves combining experimental and theoretical tools (scattering, microscopy, rheology, statistical & colloidal thermodynamics) for multi-scale characterization and description of fluid microstructure and dynamics, ultimately to inform the molecular-level design of mesoscale structure. The group has particular expertise in developing methods for in situ monitoring of fluid microstructure during processing. Current projects include the design of functional and stimuli-responsive gels and particulates for applications in biotechnology, advanced materials and energy conversion.
PhD Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
BS Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University