B.S. 1991 University of Wisconsin
Ph.D. 1996 University of Wisconsin

My group focuses on the use of solution casting, spin-coating, self-assembly, and the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique to explore the physical chemical aspects of polymer dynamics in confined geometries and at surfaces and interfaces. These systems are ideal for studying contemporary issues affecting nanotechnology like nanofiller reinforcement in polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)/polymer nanocomposites, magnetic nanoparticle-lipid interactions for drug delivery systems, and biomimetic engineering of cellulose/polymer interfaces in composites. Characterization of these phenomena is accomplished through neutron scattering and X-ray reflectivity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA), rheology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), surface light scattering (SLS), the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique, ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and optical (OM), fluorescence (FM), atomic force (AFM), scanning electron (SEM), transmission electron (TEM), and Brewster angle (BAM) microscopy at Virginia Tech.

1. "Pattern Formation in Dewetting Poly(t-Butyl Acrylate) (PtBA)/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Bilayer Films," R. Paul and A. R. Esker, Langmuir 2006, 22(16), 6734-6738.
2. "Nanoscale Surface Patterns from 103 Single Molecule Helices of Biodegradable Poly(L-Lactic Acid)," S. L. Ni, W. Yin, M. K. Ferguson-McPherson, S. K. Satija, J. R. Morris, and A. R. Esker, Langmuir 2006, 22(14), 5969-5973.
3. "Brewster Angle Microscopy Study of Poly(e-caprolactone) Crystal Growth in Langmuir Films at the Air/Water Interface," B. Li, Y. Wu, M. Liu, and A. R. Esker, Langmuir 2006, 22(11), 4902-4905.
4. "Thermodynamics of the Liquid-Expanded to Condensed Phase Transition of Poly(L-Lactic Acid) in Langmuir Monolayers," S. Ni, W. Lee, B. Li, and A. R. Esker, Langmuir 2006, 22(8), 3672-3677.
5. "Towards Wood Composites by Biomimetics," S. Gradwell, S. Renneckar, A. Esker, T. Heinze, P. Gatenholm, C. Vaca-Garcia, and W. Glasser, C. R. Biologies 2004, 327(9-10), 945-953.