Stephen Craig, Ph.D. (PI)
Stephen Craig, Ph.D.
Office: 3221 FFSC
Phone: (919) 660-1538
Biography
Steve Craig received his undergraduate degrees (B.S. in Chemistry, A.B. in Math) from Duke in 1991. After a year at Cambridge (M. Phil.), he began doctoral work at Stanford, where he received his Ph.D. in 1997. Following his Ph.D., he took a position as a Research Chemist in DuPont Central Research until early 1999, when he moved to a postdoctoral position at The Scripps Research Institute. In 2000, he joined the Department of Chemistry and the Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Material Systems at Duke, where he is now the Fuchsberg-Levine Family Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Research Interests
Our research interests bridge synthetic organic, physical, and materials chemistry. A primary theme is that of the rational, molecular design of materials formed by self-assembly — small molecules that spontaneously organize into larger, complex structures with new properties. We are working to understand the relationship between the properties of the molecular components and those of the material, and then to use that knowledge to direct our synthetic efforts. Current interests include (a) the design and synthesis of self-healing polymers and (b) understanding the chemical response of individual molecules, nanoscale assemblies, and bulk materials to a mechanical force.
