Computational Soft Matter Lab at JHU
Curk
Research Group
Welcome!
Our research focuses on the computational design of soft materials.
We employ computer simulations and analytical theory to investigate soft-matter systems.
To tackle the problems (and indulge our curiosity!), we apply and develop algorithms and simulation methods and combine
the physics-based models with various machine learning techniques. Current efforts focus on designing functional
biomaterials and intelligent soft materials that process information, see the Research
tab for more information. We have strong ties to experimental groups, and many projects
involve collaboration with experimentalists.
We are currently recruiting PhD students, See the Contact tab for current openings and opportunities.
Research Projects
Charge transport in conductive polymers, designing soft memristors for neuromorphic computing
Charge regulation in nanoparticle self-assembly
Polyelectrolyte nanoactuators
Optimal DNA packing in viral capsids
Membrane elasticity and receptor recruitment effects in endocytosis .
Electroosmotic flow in nanochannels for ionotronics
About the PI
Tine Curk is an assistant professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Johns Hopkins University. His interdisciplinary research is focused on understanding
the collective processes arising from many interacting components. He enjoys applying
the tools of statistical mechanics and numerical simulations to uncover intriguing and
often counter-intuitive collective phenomena. Specific projects include self-assembly
of nanostructures and functional soft materials for applications ranging from drug delivery
vehicles to charge transport and the design of intelligent soft materials.
Dr. Curk earned a B.S. & M.S. in Physics (U. Maribor, 2012) and a Ph.D. in Chemistry (U. Cambridge, 2016) in the group of Prof. Daan Frenkel. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Northwestern University (with Prof. Erik Luijten) before joining JHU in 2023. His academic awards include the Herchel Smith scholarship, CAS President’s postdoctoral fellowship, and Marie Curie fellowship.