Principal Investigator
Andrew L Ferguson
Associate Professor of Molecular Engineering
Contact:
Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
University of Chicago
5640 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
t: (773) 702-5950
e: andrewferguson@uchicago.edu
Education:
Ragon Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT, 2010-12 (Arup Chakraborty)
PhD, Princeton, 2005-10 (Thanos Panagiotopoulos, Pablo Debenedetti, Yannis Kevrekidis)
MEng, Imperial College London, 2001-05
Selected Honors and Awards:
UIUC College of Engineering Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2017)
AIChE CoMSEF Young Investigator Award for Modeling & Simulation (2016)
ACS COMP OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2015)
National Center for Supercomputing Applications Faculty Fellow (2015-16)
ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2014)
NSF CAREER Award (2014)
IChemE North America Young Chemical Engineer of the Year (2013)
Links:
Faculty Homepage
Ferguson Lab
Ferguson Lab Intranet
Google Scholar Profile
ResearchGate
ORCID
Bitbucket
Academic Family Tree
NIH Biosketch
NIH My Bibliography
Curriculum Vitae
Associate Professor of Molecular Engineering
Contact:
Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
University of Chicago
5640 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
t: (773) 702-5950
e: andrewferguson@uchicago.edu
Education:
Ragon Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT, 2010-12 (Arup Chakraborty)
PhD, Princeton, 2005-10 (Thanos Panagiotopoulos, Pablo Debenedetti, Yannis Kevrekidis)
MEng, Imperial College London, 2001-05
Selected Honors and Awards:
UIUC College of Engineering Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2017)
AIChE CoMSEF Young Investigator Award for Modeling & Simulation (2016)
ACS COMP OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2015)
National Center for Supercomputing Applications Faculty Fellow (2015-16)
ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2014)
NSF CAREER Award (2014)
IChemE North America Young Chemical Engineer of the Year (2013)
Links:
Faculty Homepage
Ferguson Lab
Ferguson Lab Intranet
Google Scholar Profile
ResearchGate
ORCID
Bitbucket
Academic Family Tree
NIH Biosketch
NIH My Bibliography
Curriculum Vitae
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Brandon Peters
Postdoctoral Associate, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Membrane proteins and small molecule signaling and permeation
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: petersb@uchicago.edu
Postdoctoral Associate, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Membrane proteins and small molecule signaling and permeation
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: petersb@uchicago.edu
Dr. Mingfei Zhao
Postdoctoral Associate, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Hierarchical coarse-grained models of peptide assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: mingfeizhao@uchicago.edu
Postdoctoral Associate, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Hierarchical coarse-grained models of peptide assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: mingfeizhao@uchicago.edu
Graduate Researchers
Wei Chen
Graduate Research Assistant, Physics, UIUC
Research Interests:
Development of accelerated sampling techniques with machine learning
Awards and Honors:
Excellent teachers for PHYS-211, (2014 Fall, 2015 Spring, 2015 Fall)
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: weichen9@uchicago.edu
GitHub: https://github.com/weiHelloWorld
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-chen-41211a8a
Graduate Research Assistant, Physics, UIUC
Research Interests:
Development of accelerated sampling techniques with machine learning
Awards and Honors:
Excellent teachers for PHYS-211, (2014 Fall, 2015 Spring, 2015 Fall)
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: weichen9@uchicago.edu
GitHub: https://github.com/weiHelloWorld
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-chen-41211a8a
Yutao Ma
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Machine learning in inverse materials design and self-assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: yma3@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Machine learning in inverse materials design and self-assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: yma3@uchicago.edu
Kirill Shmilovich
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Inverse design of self-assembling pi-conjugated peptides
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: kirills@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Inverse design of self-assembling pi-conjugated peptides
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: kirills@uchicago.edu
Xinran Lian (co-advised w/ Rama Ranganathan)
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Deep learning generative models for guided protein synthesis and screening
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: xlian@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Deep learning generative models for guided protein synthesis and screening
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: xlian@uchicago.edu
Nicholas Rego (co-advised w/ Amish Patel, CBE, U. Penn)
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests:
Molecular simulation and machine learning of engineered surface and protein hydrophobicity
Contact:
401 Walnut (PICS SUITE)
University of Pennsylvania
e: nrego@mail.med.upenn.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests:
Molecular simulation and machine learning of engineered surface and protein hydrophobicity
Contact:
401 Walnut (PICS SUITE)
University of Pennsylvania
e: nrego@mail.med.upenn.edu
Shiqi Chen (co-advised w/ Norbert Scherer)
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Numerical simulation and data-driven engineering of self-assembling optically-active colloidal particles
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: shiqi@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Numerical simulation and data-driven engineering of self-assembling optically-active colloidal particles
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: shiqi@uchicago.edu
Walter Alvarado (co-advised w/ Juan de Pablo)
Graduate Research Assistant, Biophysical Sciences
Research Interests:
Molecular simulation and machine learning of nucleosome dynamics and assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: walt@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Biophysical Sciences
Research Interests:
Molecular simulation and machine learning of nucleosome dynamics and assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: walt@uchicago.edu
Max Topel
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Reconstruction of molecular configurations from experimental time series measurements
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: maxtopel@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Reconstruction of molecular configurations from experimental time series measurements
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: maxtopel@uchicago.edu
Mike Jones
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Deep learning and acceleration of slow collective modes in biomolecular folding and assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: mikejones@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Deep learning and acceleration of slow collective modes in biomolecular folding and assembly
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: mikejones@uchicago.edu
Yifeng (Oliver) Tang (co-advised w/ Aaron Esser-Kahn)
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Deep and active learning discovery of influenza vaccine adjuvants
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: yifengt@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research Interests:
Deep and active learning discovery of influenza vaccine adjuvants
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: yifengt@uchicago.edu
Nicholas Herringer
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Molecular modeling of self-assembly pi-conjugated oligopeptides
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: nherringer@uchicago.edu
Graduate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Research Interests:
Molecular modeling of self-assembly pi-conjugated oligopeptides
Contact:
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: nherringer@uchicago.edu
Undergraduate Researchers
Olivia Dunne
Class of 2022
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: odunne@uchicago.edu
Class of 2022
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: odunne@uchicago.edu
Gillian Shen
Chemistry, Class of 2020
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: gillians@uchicago.edu
Chemistry, Class of 2020
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: gillians@uchicago.edu
Joseph Aulicino
Class of 2022
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: jaulicino@uchicago.edu
Class of 2022
ACC 118
University of Chicago
5640 S Ellis Av
Chicago, IL 60637
e: jaulicino@uchicago.edu
Summer Researchers
2018
Marlo Zorman
Isabelle Augensen
Isabelle Augensen
Chemistry, University of Vermont, mzorman@uvm.edu
CS, CMU, iaugense@andrew.cmu.edu
CS, CMU, iaugense@andrew.cmu.edu
2017
Aditi Munshi
Computer Science, Grinnell College, munshiad@grinnell.edu
2016
Suraj Dhanak
Mohit Gayatri
Chin-Yu (Chester) Chen
Matt Ellis
Mohit Gayatri
Chin-Yu (Chester) Chen
Matt Ellis
Materials Science and Engineering, dhanak@illinois.edu
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, gayatri2@illinois.edu
Electrical and Computer Engineering, ccheng32@illinois.edu
Math, ellis23@illinois.edu
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, gayatri2@illinois.edu
Electrical and Computer Engineering, ccheng32@illinois.edu
Math, ellis23@illinois.edu
2015
Bridgette Lafaye
Deepak Mani
Ben Fulan
Deepak Mani
Ben Fulan
Materials Science and Engineering, lafaye2@illinois.edu
Materials Science and Engineering, dmani2@illinois.edu
Math, fulan2@illinois.edu
Materials Science and Engineering, dmani2@illinois.edu
Math, fulan2@illinois.edu
2014
Ben Fulan
Math, fulan2@illinois.edu
2013
Yuecheng (Peter) Zhou
Ali Hajimirza
Abhijit Pujare
Ali Hajimirza
Abhijit Pujare
Materials Science and Engineering, zhou62@illinois.edu
Computer Science, U. Oklahoma, ali@alihm.net
Electrical Engineering / Computer Science, Yale, abhijit.pujare@yale.edu
Computer Science, U. Oklahoma, ali@alihm.net
Electrical Engineering / Computer Science, Yale, abhijit.pujare@yale.edu
Group Alumni
Postdoctoral Graduates
Dr. Hythem Sidky
Senior Data Scientist, Kaiser Permanente (Commenced 07/15/19)
Research Interests:
Enhanced sampling and deep learning in bimolecular dynamics
Contact:
e: hsidky@uchicago.edu
Senior Data Scientist, Kaiser Permanente (Commenced 07/15/19)
Research Interests:
Enhanced sampling and deep learning in bimolecular dynamics
Contact:
e: hsidky@uchicago.edu
PhD Graduates
Andrew W Long, PhD
Senior Data Scientist for the Business and Safety Graphics Lab, 3M, Maplewood MN
PhD Thesis:
Inverse design of self-assembling colloids via landscape engineering
(Defended 08/16/17)
Awards and Honors:
Racheff-Intel Award Finalist, University of Illinois, 2016
MRS Best Poster Award Nominee, Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 2016
Outstanding Student Presentation Award, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, 2014
Materials Hackathon - Third Place, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, 2014
Hamer Graduate Fellowship, University of Illinois, 2012
Contact:
e: awlong@mmm.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-long-a2b25129
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=opTK-NUAAAAJ
GitHub: https://github.com/awlong/
Senior Data Scientist for the Business and Safety Graphics Lab, 3M, Maplewood MN
PhD Thesis:
Inverse design of self-assembling colloids via landscape engineering
(Defended 08/16/17)
Awards and Honors:
Racheff-Intel Award Finalist, University of Illinois, 2016
MRS Best Poster Award Nominee, Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 2016
Outstanding Student Presentation Award, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, 2014
Materials Hackathon - Third Place, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, 2014
Hamer Graduate Fellowship, University of Illinois, 2012
Contact:
e: awlong@mmm.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-long-a2b25129
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=opTK-NUAAAAJ
GitHub: https://github.com/awlong/
Greg R Hart
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Prof. Jun Deng, Dept. of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Research Scientist (Dynamic Modeling), Institute for Disease Modeling, Seattle, WA
PhD Thesis:
In silico vaccine design for hepatitis C: A computational platform for fighting disease
(Defended 08/24/17)
Awards and Honors:
CSE Graduate Fellowship, Computational Science and Engineering program UIUC, 2014-2016
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, UIUC Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, 2012-2013
Graduate Teacher Certificate, UIUC Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, 2013
Contact:
e: gregory.hart@yale.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-hart-49a78127
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=N1xni58AAAAJ&hl=en
GitHub: https://github.com/GregoryRHart
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Prof. Jun Deng, Dept. of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Research Scientist (Dynamic Modeling), Institute for Disease Modeling, Seattle, WA
PhD Thesis:
In silico vaccine design for hepatitis C: A computational platform for fighting disease
(Defended 08/24/17)
Awards and Honors:
CSE Graduate Fellowship, Computational Science and Engineering program UIUC, 2014-2016
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, UIUC Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, 2012-2013
Graduate Teacher Certificate, UIUC Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, 2013
Contact:
e: gregory.hart@yale.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-hart-49a78127
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=N1xni58AAAAJ&hl=en
GitHub: https://github.com/GregoryRHart
Jiang Wang
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Profs. Cecilia Clementi and Frank Noé, Rice University
PhD Thesis:
Nonlinear machine learning of macromolecular folding and self-assembly
(Defended 05/01/18)
Awards and Honors:
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Fall), 2014 (Spring)
Physics Graduate Student Travel Award, 2015
Physics Graduate Student Travel Award, 2017
Contact:
e: jwang110@illinois.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiang-wang-0428776b
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LDnTZrsAAAAJ&hl=en
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Profs. Cecilia Clementi and Frank Noé, Rice University
PhD Thesis:
Nonlinear machine learning of macromolecular folding and self-assembly
(Defended 05/01/18)
Awards and Honors:
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Fall), 2014 (Spring)
Physics Graduate Student Travel Award, 2015
Physics Graduate Student Travel Award, 2017
Contact:
e: jwang110@illinois.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiang-wang-0428776b
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LDnTZrsAAAAJ&hl=en
Rachael Mansbach
Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow w/ Dr. Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran, Los Alamos National Lab
PhD Thesis:
Dimensionality reduction and multiscale modeling for the understanding of protein folding and hierarchical self-assembly
(Defended 05/08/18)
Awards and Honors:
Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Fellow, UIUC, 2016-2017
Building Future Faculty Program Fellow, NCSU, March 29-Apr 2, 2016
Mavis Future Faculty Fellow, UIUC, 2015-2016
APS Graduate Student Affairs Travel Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, 2015
UIUC Dept. of Physics Graduate Travel Award, 2015
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Fall)
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Spring)
National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2012
Goldwater Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2010
Department of Energy (DOE) Science and Energy Research Challenge finalist, 2009
Swarthmore Department of Mathematics Morris Monsky Prize, 2008
Contact:
e: mansbac2@illinois.edu
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachael_Mansbach
GitHub: http://github.com/ramansbach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-mansbach-3430a986
Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow w/ Dr. Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran, Los Alamos National Lab
PhD Thesis:
Dimensionality reduction and multiscale modeling for the understanding of protein folding and hierarchical self-assembly
(Defended 05/08/18)
Awards and Honors:
Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Fellow, UIUC, 2016-2017
Building Future Faculty Program Fellow, NCSU, March 29-Apr 2, 2016
Mavis Future Faculty Fellow, UIUC, 2015-2016
APS Graduate Student Affairs Travel Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, 2015
UIUC Dept. of Physics Graduate Travel Award, 2015
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Fall)
UIUC Dept. of Physics Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013 (Spring)
National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2012
Goldwater Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2010
Department of Energy (DOE) Science and Energy Research Challenge finalist, 2009
Swarthmore Department of Mathematics Morris Monsky Prize, 2008
Contact:
e: mansbac2@illinois.edu
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachael_Mansbach
GitHub: http://github.com/ramansbach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-mansbach-3430a986
Bryce A Thurston III
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Drs. Gary Grest, Amalie Frischknecht, and Mark Stevens, Sandia National Lab
PhD Thesis:
Composition, thermodynamics, and morphology: A multi-scale computational approach for the design of self-assembling peptides
(Defended 10/23/18)
Awards and Honors:
Outstanding Discussion TA, Illinios Department of Physics, Fall 2012
Outstanding Discussion TA, Illinois Department of Physics, Spring 2013
Excellent Lab TA, Illinois Department of Physics, Summer 2013
Contact:
e: thursto2@illinois.edu
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bryce_Thurston
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=en&user=pUm-07sAAAAJ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-thurston-33ab8b122
Postdoctoral Associate w/ Drs. Gary Grest, Amalie Frischknecht, and Mark Stevens, Sandia National Lab
PhD Thesis:
Composition, thermodynamics, and morphology: A multi-scale computational approach for the design of self-assembling peptides
(Defended 10/23/18)
Awards and Honors:
Outstanding Discussion TA, Illinios Department of Physics, Fall 2012
Outstanding Discussion TA, Illinois Department of Physics, Spring 2013
Excellent Lab TA, Illinois Department of Physics, Summer 2013
Contact:
e: thursto2@illinois.edu
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bryce_Thurston
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=en&user=pUm-07sAAAAJ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-thurston-33ab8b122
Undergraduate
Jingtian Hu
(2012-13)
(2012-13)
PhD Candidate, Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
e: jingtianhu2018@u.northwestern.edu
e: jingtianhu2018@u.northwestern.edu
Yuecheng (Peter) Zhou (2012-14)
PhD Candidate, Materials Science and Engineering / Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
e: zhou62@illinois.edu
e: zhou62@illinois.edu
Shao Mei
(2013-14)
(2013-14)
Epic Medical Records, Verona, WI
Alex Trick
(2013-16)
(2013-16)
PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
e: trick2@illinois.edu
e: trick2@illinois.edu
Samuel Kaufman
(2014-15)
(2014-15)
BS Candidate, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
e: sikaufm2@illinois.edu
e: sikaufm2@illinois.edu
Bridgette LaFaye
(2014-15)
(2014-15)
Deepak Mani
(2015-17)
(2015-17)
Mohit Gayatri
(2016-18)
(2016-18)
Chester Chen
(2016-18)
(2016-18)
Aik-Rui Tan
(2017-18)
(2017-18)