I am a PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, and have worked with the Gianneschi Group since 2018. My work centers on using novel in situ characterization techniques to analyze soft materials, and has been recognized by a number of national and internal fellowships. Lists of publications and more specific research information may be found on the pages, or on my LinkedIn and Google Scholar pages.

Research Description

My graduate research focuses on expanding the scope of liquid phase transmission electron microscopy, specifically with regards to soft matter. I have pioneered the direct observation of emulsions and other mixed phase systems, and have used analogous techniques to investigate a variety of industrially-relevant, consumer-facing materials.

In my undergraduate work, I explored structure-property relationships in polyelectrolyte hydrogels in order to develop a better understanding of how the inclusion of ionic salts affected the polymerization and resulting materials. I was listed as an inventor on the patent for these materials as well. During my various summer internships and REU, I was also involved in projects building biocompatible scaffolds for use in regenerative medicine, both with natural and synthetic materials, through additive manufacturing and microfabrication.

Contact

I can be reached at contact@vratsanos.com