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Bio

Pat Collier received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1998, where he contributed to the discovery of a reversible metal-insulator transition in ordered two-dimensional superlattices of silver nanoparticles. As a joint postdoctoral associate at UCLA and Hewlett-Packard labs, he was involved in some of the first demonstrations of defect-tolerant computation in molecular electronics. As an assistant professor at the California Institute of Technology, he developed novel lithographic techniques to pattern phase-separated fluid lipid bilayers and single biological molecules at the nanoscale, and carried out the first demonstrations of electrowetting of single walled carbon nanotubes with liquid metals. He is currently a member of the research staff at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) at 91����, where he has helped develop methods for forming individual femtoliter-volume water-in-oil droplets in microfluidic channels on demand, and elucidate phase change behavior of water and lipid bilayer membranes on nanostructured surfaces. Current research interests include investigations into how assembly and functionality of lipid bilayers and polymer membranes are affected by confined and crowded environments, and the use of soft matter systems in the development of neuromorphological elements needed for neural networks.

Professional Experience

2015-present    Senior Research Staff, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ORNL

2014-present    Joint Faculty Research Associate Professor, Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2008–2015       Research Staff, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ORNL

2001–2008       Assistant Professor, California Institute of Technology  

1999–2001       Joint Hewlett-Packard – UCLA Postdoctoral Researcher

1998–1999       Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Chem. and Biochemistry, UCLA

1991–1998       Graduate Research Associate, Dept. Chem., UC Berkeley

1990–1991       Undergrad. Research Assoc., Dept. Chem., Oberlin College

1990                NSF Undergrad. Research Fellow, Dept. Chem. Univ. of Utah

1989                NSF Undergrad. Research Fellow, Dept. Chem. Washington Univ. in St. Louis

Awards

Young Faculty Research Initiation Award, Center for Science and Engineering of Materials (NSF MRSEC) 2004

Research Innovation Award, Research Corp., 2002

Caltech President’s Fund Award, 2002

UCLA Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research, 2001

Education

Oberlin College, B.A., B. Mus 1991 Chemistry

University of California-Berkeley, Ph.D. 1998 Physical Chemistry

Professional Service

Co-chair, organizing committee for ACS Fall 2023 Meeting Colloids Program Focus Session on Biomaterials and Biointerfaces

Co-chair, organizing committee for ACS Spring 2023 Meeting Colloids Program Focus Session on Controlled Assembly of Charged Soft Matter and Biomaterials and Biointerfaces

Co-chair, organizing committee for APS Spring 2021, 2022 Meetings Division of Polymer Physics (DPOLY) Focus Session on Charged Polymers for Neuromorphic Applications

Discussion leader for “Designing Structured Surfaces for Maximum Heat Transfer,” Gordon Research Conference on Micro & Nanoscale Phase Change Heat Transfer, 2017

Co-chair for CNMS Nano-Bio Conference, ORNL, 2013

Co-chair for “Micro and Nanotechnology; Nanopores” platform, Biophysical Society Meeting, 2011

Co-chair for “Molecular Electronic Circuit Assembly” track, Conference on Foundations of Nanoscience (DARPA), 2005-2007

Discussion leader for “Biomolecular and Supramolecular Electronics,” Gordon Research Conference on the Chemistry of Electronic Materials, 2005

Professional Affiliations

American Chemical Society

American Physical Society

Biophysical Society

Materials Research Society

Specialized Equipment

Rame-Hart contact angle goniometer for the determination of surface tension and surface energy at interfaces.

PDMS/COC-polymer device fabrication station, including SCS 6800 Speedline Spin Coater, Harrick plasma cleaner, and Carver heated 12-ton press.

Nikon Eclipse TE-200 Single-Molecule Confocal Microscope, capable of integrating microfluidic device control with fluorescence single-molecule detection.

Molecular Devices Axopatch 200B single-channel recording amplifier.

Elements e4 and Tecella Flex multichannel patch-clamp amplifiers.

BioLogic Electrochemical Impedance Analyzer (Scientific Instruments).

Trademarks and Patents

U.S. Patent No. 11,181,446 B2, Issued November 23,2021
“Laser Ablation Sampling System and Method”

U.S. Patent No. 10,661,908, Issued May 26, 2020
“Passive Anti-frosting Surface Comprised of Microscopic Wettability Patterns Containing Sacrificial Ice”

U.S. Patent No. 9,730,898, Issued August 15, 2017
“Reversible, On-Demand Generation of Aqueous Two-Phase Microdroplets”

U.S. Patent No. 8,944,083, Issued February 3, 2015
“Generation of monodisperse femtoliter droplets by shape-induced shear and interfacial controlled fusion of individual droplets on demand”

U.S. Patent No. 8,492,160 B1, Issued July 23, 2013
“Biomarker Sensors and Method for Multi-Color Imaging and Processing of Single-Molecule Life Signatures”

U.S. Patent No. 7,514,214 B2, Issued: April 7, 2009
“Selective Functionalization of Carbon Nanotube Tips Allowing Fabrication of New Classes of Nanoscale Sensing and Manipulation Tools”

European Patent EP1236206 B1, Issued: September 13, 2006
“Electrically Addressable Volatile Non-Volatile Molecular-Based Switching Devices”

U.S. Patent No. 7,211,795 B2, Issued: May 1, 2007
“Method for Manufacturing Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Tips”

U.S. Patent No. 6,979,639 B2, Issued: December 27, 2005
“Method for Lithographic Processing on Molecular Monolayer and Multilayer Thin Films”

U.S. Patent No. 6,756,296 B2, Issued: June 29, 2004
“Method for Lithographic Processing on Molecular Monolayer and Multilayer Thin Films”

U.S. Patent No. 6,198,655 B1, Issued: March 6, 2001
“Electrically Addressable Volatile Non-Volatile Molecular-Based Switching Devices”

Publications