The Molecular Foundry - Theory of Nanostructured Materials - Staff

Steve Whitelam

Staff Scientist, Theory of Nanostructured Materials Facility

I study soft matter systems, both biological and inorganic, using models and methods based on statistical mechanics.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic peanut-shaped nanoparticles
We use computer simulation to investigate the self-assembly of Janus-like amphiphilic peanut-shaped nanoparticles, finding phases of clusters, bilayers and micelles, all in accordance with ideas of packing familiar from the study of molecular surfactants. However, packing arguments do not explain the hierarchical self-assembly dynamics that we observe, nor the coexistence of bilayers and hollow, faceted capsids. This coexistence suggests the experimental realization of multipotent assembly of competing, ordered structures. Learn more

- S. Whitelam and S.A.F. Bon
Dynamic actin patterns in vivo
- Transformation from Spots to Waves in a Model of Actin Pattern Formation
  Nanostructured actin networks in certain single-celled organisms exhibit a complex pattern-forming dynamic that involves a transformation of spot-like actin solitons into waves that resemble motility-inducing ‘leading edges’. We propose a possible physical mechanism for this transformation within the framework of an excitable reaction-diffusion system. Learn more
  
  - S. Whitelam, T. Bretschneider and N.J. Burroughs

Real-time Imaging of Pt3Fe Nanorod Growth in Solution, H.-G. Liao, L. Cui, S. Whitelam, H. Zheng*, Science 336, 6084, 1011 (2012)
Design rules for the self-assembly of a protein crystal, T.K. Haxton and S. Whitelam*, Soft Matter 8, 3558 (2012)
Random and ordered phases of off-lattice rhombus tiles, S. Whitelam*, I. Tamblyn, P.H. Beton, J.P. Garrahan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 035702 (2012)
Analyzing mechanisms and microscopic reversibility of self-assembly, J. Grant, R.L. Jack*, S.Whitelam*, J. Chem. Phys. 135, 214505 (2011)
Limit of validity of Ostwald's rule of stages in a statistical mechanical model of crystallization, L.O. Hedges and S. Whitelam*, J. Chem. Phys. 135, 164902 (2011)

2004 Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, Linacre College, University of Oxford. Supervised by Juan P. Garrahan and David Sherrington

2001 MPhys, Trinity College, University of Oxford

2007-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick. Supervised by Nigel Burroughs

2004-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley. Supervised by Phillip L. Geissler