Professor and Chair Robert M. Briber

APS Fellow
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1984
Room 2141 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building
Phone: (301) 405-7313
E-mail: rbriber@umd.edu
C.V. (PDF)

Research Interests

Polymer physics and phase transitions in polymer systems
Polymer morphology and structure
Chain conformation and shape of synthetic and bio- polymers
Neutron and X-ray scattering characterization of materials
Transmission electron microscopy of polymers

Current Research Projects

Synthesis and Characterization of Structured Hydrogels

Charged polymers (polyelectrolytes) and surfactant systems can have strong associations due to coulombic interactions and have been shown to form complex structures. We are extending these systems to hydrogels, where the polymer is crosslinked in the presence of an ordered surfactant system to form a structured hydrogel.

Data Analysis and Modeling of Off Specular Neutron Reflectivity

Specular neutron reflectivity is a powerful characterization tool for studying the structure of thin films in the film normal direction. Off specular reflectivity has the potential to extend the analysis to structure in the x-y plane of the film, but has been hampered by lack of suitable data analysis and modeling tools. We are working the NIST Center for Neutron Research to develop such tools and establish principles for analyzing such data using model systems.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposites with Improved Flammability

Polymer nanocomposites formed from layered silicates have been shown to have improved mechanical properties silicate is distributed in an exfoliated or intercalated morphology. We are working with collaborators in both the Fire Protection Engineering Department at the University of Maryland and the Fire Research Division at NIST to synthesis and characterize polymer nanocomposites with improved flammability.

Structure of Nanoporous Low K Dielectric Materials

We are working with IBM on the characterization of nanoporous films of spin on glass materials where the nanoporosity is formed by mixing the spin-on glass with a polymer prior to cure. During the high temperature cure of the spin-on glass the polymer degrades resulting in a nanoporous morphology to the thin film.

Folding of RNA

RNAs perform many biological functions by folding into specific three-dimensional structures. Understanding how RNAs fold is crucial for understanding the assembly of RNA-protein complexes such as the ribosome, the regulation of gene expression by RNA, and the engineering of RNA sensors and "riboswitches". In the presence of counterions, RNAs collapse into compact intermediates, which subsequently fold into the native tertiary structure. We are addressing these questions using X-ray and neutron scattering to address the structure, kinetics and dynamics of the RNA folding process.

Top

Teaching

Professor Briber teaches a range of classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level. At the undergraduate level he has taught:

ENES 100: Introduction to Engineering Design
This course is a product design course for first year engineering students. Students work in teams and build a complex project that encompasses many different fields of engineering.
ENMA 150: Materials of Civilization
The basic structure and properties of materials at an introductory level are presented and connections are drawn to show how many of the major advances in throughout history have been preceded by advances in materials. This is a University of Maryland Marquee Science and Technology Course designed for non-science majors. See www.marqueecourses.umd.edu.
ENMA 300: Introduction to Materials and Their Applications
The structure of materials, chemical composition, phase transformations, corrosion and mechanical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and related materials. Electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical properties of materials. Materials selection in engineering applications.
ENMA 423: Manufacturing with Polymers
This course introduces students to the broad spectrum of issues associated with the use, manufacturing and processing of polymers, which includes addressing issues of blending of materials, design and production of a polymer formulation and the characterization of material properties. The participants of the course will be organized into teams to work for a semester on an open ended design problem of producing and characterizing a polymer formulation for advanced materials use.

At the graduate level, Dr. Briber has taught:

ENMA 620: Polymer Physics (MSE Graduate Program core course)
The thermodynamics, structure, morphology and properties of polymers. Developing an understanding of the relationships between theory and observed behavior in polymeric materials.
ENMA 661: Kinetics of Reactions in Materials (MSE Graduate Program core course)
The theory of thermally activated processes in solids as applied to diffusion, nucleation and interface motion. Cooperative and diffusionless transformations. Applications selected from processes such as allotropic transformations, precipitation, martensite formation, solidification, ordering, and corrosion.

Top

Honors and Awards

American Physical Society, Fellow (elected 1995)
Department of Commerce Bronze Medal, December 1990
Electron Microscope Society of America Presidential Student Scholarship, 1982
Editor, Journal of Polymer Science—Polymer Physics Edition (1/99-01/07)

Top

Selected Recent Publications

Joon Ho Roh, Madhu Tyagi, R.M. Briber, Sarah A. Woodson, Alexei P. Sokolov, "The dynamics of unfolded versus folded tRNA: The role of electrostatic interactions", JACS, 2011, 133, 16406–16409 dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja207667u

Omar Ayyub, Jennifer W. Sekowski, Ta-I Yang, Xin Zhang, R.M. Briber, Peter Kofinas; "Color Changing Block Copolymer Films for Chemical Sensing of Simple Sugars", Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2011, 28, 349– 354 doi:10.1016/j.bios.2011.07.043

K. L. Krycka, A. J. Jackson, J. A. Borchers, J. Shih, R.M. Briber, R. Ivkov, C. Gruttner, and C. L. Dennis; "Internal magnetic structure of dextran coated magnetite nanoparticles in solution using small angle neutron scattering with polarization analysis", J. of Applied Physics 109, 07B513 (2011)

Xin Zhang, Christopher Metting, R.M. Briber, Florian Weilnboeck, Sang Hak Shin, Benjamin Jones and Gottlieb Oehrlein, Poly(2-vinyl naphthalene-b-acrylic acid) block copolymer self-assembled pattern formation, alignment and transfer" Macromolecular Chemistry & Physics 2011, 212(16), 1735–1741 DOI: 10.1002/macp.201100232

Wonjoo Lee, Seung Yong Lee, R.M. Briber and Oded Rabin, "Fully Self-Assembled SERS Substrate with Tunable Surface Plasmon Resonances", Advanced Materials, 2011, 21, 3424–3429 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201101218

Sunil K. Sinha, Henry Glyde, R.M. Briber, Masaki Takata, "Access to Major International Facilities", Synchrotron Radiation News, 23(2), 33-38, (2010)

Joon Ho Roh, Liang Guo, J. Duncan Kilburn, R.M. Briber, Thomas Irving, Sarah A. Woodson, "Multistage collapse of a bacterial ribozyme observed by time-resolved SAXS", JACS, 132(29), 10148–10154, (2010) 10.1021/ja103867p

Wonjoo Lee, P. Kofinas, R.M. Briber, "Small angle neutron scattering study of deuterated sodium dodecylsulfate micellization in dilute poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) solutions" Polymer 51(13), 2872-2878, (2010), 10.1016/j.polymer.2010.04.018

J. Duncan Kilburn, Joon Ho Roh, Liang Guo, R.M. Briber, Sarah A. Woodson, "Molecular crowding stabilizes folded RNA structure by the excluded volume effect", JACS (2010), 132(25), 8690–8696, 10.1021/ja101500g

Lee, W., Zhang, X., & Briber, R.M., A simple method for creating nanoporous block-copolymer thin films. Polymer 51 (11), 2376-2382 (2010).

Khodadadi, S. et al., Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules: Not a Simple Slaving by Hydration Water. Biophysical Journal 98 (7), 1321-1326 (2010).

Roh, J.H. et al., Dynamics of tRNA at Different Levels of Hydration. Biophysical Journal 96 (7), 2755-2762 (2009).

Ren, S.Q., Briber, R.M., & Wuttig, M., Self-organized two-dimensional onions (vol 94, 113507, 2009). Applied Physics Letters 94 (25) (2009).

Ren, S.Q., Briber, R.M., & Wuttig, M., Self-organized two-dimensional onions. Applied Physics Letters 94 (11) (2009).

Moghaddam, S. et al., Metal Ion Dependence of Cooperative Collapse Transitions in RNA. Journal of Molecular Biology 393 (3), 753-764 (2009).

Dandu, R. et al., Silk-elastinlike protein polymer hydrogels: Influence of monomer sequence on physicochemical properties. Polymer 50 (2), 366-374 (2009).

Akcora, P., Briber, R.M., & Kofinas, P., Oxidation effect on templating of metal oxide nanoparticles within block copolymers. Polymer 50 (5), 1223-1227 (2009).

Yun, S.I. et al., Conformation of arborescent polymers in solution by small-angle neutron scattering: Segment density and core-shell morphology. Macromolecules 41 (1), 175-183 (2008).

Ren, S.Q., Briber, R.M., & Wuttig, M., Diblock copolymer based self-assembled nanomagnetoelectric. Applied Physics Letters 93 (17) (2008).

Woodson, S.A. et al., SAXS studies of RNA folding show a dependence on counterion charge density. Biophysical Journal, 48A-48A (2007).

Kim, S., Briber, R.M., Karim, A., Jones, R.L., & Kim, H.C., Environment-controlled spin coating to rapidly orient microdomains in thin block copolymer films. Macromolecules 40 (12), 4102-4105 (2007).

Yun, S.I., Briber, R.M., Kee, R.A., & Gauthier, M., Dilute-solution structure of charged arborescent graft polymer. Polymer 47 (8), 2750-2759 (2006).

Jones, R., Kim, S., Karim, A., Briber, R.M., & Kim, H.C., Orientation of block copolymer phases within confined environments. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society 231 (2006).

Caliskan, G. et al., Dynamic transition in tRNA is solvent induced. Journal of the American Chemical Society 128 (1), 32-33 (2006).

Akcora, P., Briber, R.M., & Kofinas, P., TEM characterization of diblock copolymer templated iron oxide nanoparticles: Bulk solution and thin film surface doping approach. Polymer 47 (6), 2018-2022 (2006).

Top

Conferences Organized

American Conference on Neutron Scattering, College Park, Md. June 2004. This is an international conference with about 500 participants.
First American Conference on Neutron Scattering, Knoxville, TN, June 2002. This is an international conference which had about 400 participants. It was the first time the conference was run and it is planned to be organized every two years.
Soft Materials and Structural Biology Breakout Session at the SNS Users Meeting, May 2000, Washington, D.C.
SNS LWTS Polymers, Colloids & Biology Workshop, April 2000 at University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
Morphological Control of Multiphase Polymer Mixtures, MRS Fall 1996 meeting, Boston, Ma.

Top

Professional Affiliations

Professional Elected Offices

Neutron Scattering Society of America, President 2002-2005
Neutron Scattering Society of America, vice president 1999-2002
Member-at-Large to the Executive Committee of the Division of Polymer Physics, American Physical Society, 1999-2002

Professional Memberships

American Physical Society (fellow)
Neutron Scattering Society of America
Materials Research Society
American Chemical Society
Biophysical Society

Professional Committee Memberships

NIST Center for Neutron Research Program Advisory Committee, member 1999 to2004
University of Chicago Review Committee for the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source at Argonne National Laboratory 1997, 1999, 2001
Large Length Scales Working Group, Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Lab, Dept. of Energy, November 1998
Basic Energy Science Advisory Committee Review of the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Lab, October 1998
Scheduling Committee, American Physical Society, Division of High Polymer Physics March Meeting, 1994-1998
Los Alamos—Argonne National Laboratory Pulsed Neutron Source Program Advisory Committee 1993-1997 (Chair 1996-97)
Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Research Award Committee, 1994-1997
American Physical Society Division of High Polymer Physics Nominations Committee
NASA Microgravity Research Review Panel for Polymers, 1995, 1997