Meetings

Saturday, March 14, 2026 12:30-5:30 pm and Sunday, March 15, 2026: 9am-5:30 pm

Location to be announced.

Registration

Register when registering for the APS meeting.

Registration fees:

APS Members: 
$200 – students
$225 – early career
$250 – other/retired

Non-APS members:
$200 – students
$225 – early career
$350 - other

Organizers

Alex Marras, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin (amarras@utexas.edu) 

Allie Obermeyer, Associate Professor, Columbia University (aco2134@columbia.edu) 

Sponsors

Course Details

Overview

This short course will introduce attendees to the physics of biopolymers and polymer use in biotechnology. The short course will cover (1) the fundamental physics of natural and synthetic biopolymers; (2) polymer use in drug delivery from both academic and biopharmaceutical perspectives; (3) polymer assemblies designed to interact with cells, including experimental and simulation work on the extracellular matrix and tissue regeneration; and (4) novel polymeric materials assembled from biomaterials or interacting with biology. 

The course is targeted to graduate students and researchers who are either beginning to or seeking to work in areas related to polymers in biotechnology or want a refresher on the fundamental physics of these systems. Participation from postdoctoral associates, faculty, and researchers in industry or national labs is welcome and encouraged. 

Schedule

Saturday, March 14, 2026 (afternoon only)

• 12:30-1pm: Welcome to the Short Course (organizers)

• 1-3pm: Session 1: Fundamental Physics of Biopolymers and Self-Assembly

• Rohit Pappu (Washington University of St. Louis)

• Danielle Mai (Stanford University)

• 3-3:30pm: Break

• 3:30-5:30pm: Session 2: Bioinspired and biomimetic polymeric materials 

• Darrin Pochan (University of Delaware)

• Helen Zha (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

• Dinner - not provided, but sign-ups for optional small-group outings will be organized

Sunday, March 15, 2026 (full day)

• 9-9:30am: Breakfast (provided)

• 9:30-11:30am: Session 3: Polymeric (bio)materials for applications in tissue engineering

• Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez (University of Texas at Austin)

• Jason Burdick (University of Colorado, Boulder)

• 11:30-1pm: Lunch (provided)

• 1-3pm: Session 4: Polymers for drug delivery of small molecules and biomolecules

• Matthew Lamm (Merck, Inc.)

• Matthew Tirrell (University of Chicago)

• 3-3:30pm: Break

• 3:30-4:30pm: Session 5: Round Table

Past DPOLY Short Courses

DPOLY March Meeting Booklets