Visiting Project Scientist Assistant Position (w/out Salary) Apply now to Visiting Project Scientist Assistant Position (w/out Salary) Job #JPF10143 + Materials Science & Engr / Henry Samueli School Engr & Ap / UCLA Position overview Salary range: Without Salary Application Window Open date: January 29, 2025 Most recent review date: Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled. Final date: Tuesday, Jul 1, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled. Position description Per Prof. He: It is my great pleasure to accept you from Prof. Tao Chen’s group in Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) to my research group at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a visiting graduate student to continue your PhD study on bio-inspired soft materials through the collaborative effort. I will host you at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA. We have verified that you have already successfully passed the Exchange Visitor English Proficiency Certification Test organized by UCLA. This invitation is based upon the fact that you will be granted sufficient funds, which will cover your cost of living, travel, and health insurance. This visit tentatively starting from December, 2023. I understand you will have full financial support to cover your travel and living expenses during this visit through the Overseas Study Program for Young Talents of Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, CAS, or the National Construction of High-Level University Public Graduate Project of China Scholarship Council, and other sponsor projects. There are no tuition for the visiting scholar program. Thus, the appointment as a visiting student is made with the understanding that UCLA is not obligated to provide financial support for your travel or living expenses. Your appointment as a visiting student also depends on you receiving an appropriate visa for your stay in the United States. UCLA will assist you in obtaining the visa, but the ultimate responsibility will be yours Qualifications Basic qualifications A minimum of a Master's Degree is required. Application Requirements Document requirements + Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. CURRICULUM VITAE Muqing Si (司牧青) Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences No.1219 Zhongguan West Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201, P.R. China Phone: (+86) 17775211956, E-mail: simuqing@nimte.ac.cn Personal Statement A dictated, diligent PhD student who have developed particular interests in smart polymeric materials. Having experiences in leading and engaging research project and publishing high- level scientific research articles. A trusted collaborator in laboratory, willing to devote and share, and also a confident presenter at conferences, able to explain and communicate. Education Ph.D. student in Science, Chemistry and physics of Polymers 2019-present University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), China Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy Sciences (CAS), China Advisor: Wei Lu, Professor, NIMTE; Tao Chen, Professor, NIMTE GPA: 3.83 BA in Engineering, Polymer material and engineering 2015-2019 Anhui University of Science and Technology (AUST), China GPA: 3.91 Advisor: Prof. Guojun Cheng Research Interest I have particular interests in developing multi-functional fluorescent smart polymer materials which has synergetic multi-level stimuli-responsive abilities, and their potential applications for food examination, toxic matter detection, medical indicators and beyond. Research Experience 2022-present: Investigation into self-sustained soft oscillator. ⚫ Ph.D. degree research project, supervised by Prof. Wei Lu and Prof. Tao Chen. ⚫ Making satisfying progress and has derived several exciting research topics. 2020-2021: Study into multi-color smart polymeric membrane ⚫ Develop in-depth understanding of supramolecular materials and gain enormous interest in smart materials during the process. ⚫ Presented and awarded at several academic conferences through posters and oral presentations. ⚫ Results published on Mater. Chem. Front., Cell Rep. Phys. Sci. (Top 10 material science papers of 2021, Cell press), Acc. Chem. Res. (cover) and widely reported by international scientific medias. 2018-2019: Research into SBS/montmorillonite nanocomposites, National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, head ⚫ Undergraduate research project proceeded under the supervision of Prof. Guojun Cheng and awarded as excellent graduation thesis ⚫ Assigned as leader and successfully gained 20,000 RMB research funding support from National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. ⚫ Results published on Journal of Materials Science and Engineering. Selected Honors & Awards First prize Scholarship, UCAS, 2022. Merit Students, UCAS, 2022. Excellent graduation thesis, AUST, 2019. Outstanding graduates, AUST, 2019. First prize Scholarship, AUST, 2018, 2019. Scholarship of Zijin Science and Technology, first place, 2019. Third prize of National English Competition for College Students, 2017, 2019. Academic Exchanges National Polymer Academic Paper Conference, 2021, Beijing, China. (Poster) 4th Polymer Youth Academic Forum Division, 2021, Ningbo, China. (Oral report, Third prize). 11st National Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Student Forum, 2021, Wuhan, China. (Oral report, Excellent Report Award). 12nd National Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Student Forum, 2022, Wuhan, China. (Oral report, Excellent Report Award). Macromolecular Rapid Communications Online Poster Awards, 2022, online (Poster, Excellence prize). The 18ᵗʰ Chinese Conference on Colloid and Interface Chemistry, 2023, Xi’an, China (Poster). Publications M. Si,# H. Shi,# W. Lu,* T. Chen* et al., Optimizing supramolecular fluorescent materials with responsive multi-color tunability toward soft biomimetic skins, Mater. Chem. Front. 2021, 5, 5130-5141. G. Lin,# M. Si,# Tao Chen* et al., Dual-channel flexible strain sensors based on mechanofluorescent and conductive hydrogel laminates, Adv. Optical Mater. 2022, 10, 2102306. (Co-first author) W. Lu,# R. Wang,# M. Si, # Tao Chen* et al. Synergistic fluorescent hydrogel actuators with selective spatial shape/color-changing behaviors via interfacial supramolecular assembly. SmartMat. 2023, e1190. (Co-first author) W. Lu, M. Si, T. Chen* et al., A panther chameleon skin-inspired core@shell supramolecular hydrogel with spatially organized multi-luminogens enables programmable color change, Cell Reports Physical Science 2021, 2, 100417. W. Lu, M. Si, T. Chen* et al., Mimicking color-changing organisms to enable the multicolors and multifunctions of smart fluorescent polymeric hydrogels, Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, 16, 2291-2303. H. Shi, S. Wu, M. Si, S. Wei, G. Lin, H. Liu, W. Xie, W. Lu,* and Tao Chen*, Cephalopod- inspired design of photomechanically modulated display systems for on-demand fluorescent patterning, Adv. Mater. 2022, 34, 2107452. H. Liu, S. Wei, H. Qiu, M. Si, G. Lin, Z. Lei, W. Lu,* L. Zhou,* and T. Chen*, Supramolecular hydrogel with orthogonally responsive r/g/b fluorophores enables multi- color switchable biomimetic soft skins, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2108830. H. Shang#, X. Le*#, M. Si, S. Wu, Y. Peng, F. Shan, S. Wu and T. Chen* et al., Biomimetic organohydrogel actuator with high response speed and synergistic fluorescent variation, Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 429, 13229. S. Wu, H. Shi, W. Lu,* S. Wei, H. Shang, H. Liu, M. Si, X. Le, G. Yin, P. Theato, and T. Chen*, Aggregation induced emissive carbon dots gels for octopus-inspired shape/color synergistically adjustable actuator, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2021, 60, 21890. G. Yin, J. Huang, D. Liu, R. Li, S. Wei, M. Si, F. Ni, Y. Zheng, Q. Yang, R. Zhou,* X. Le,* W. Lu, T. Chen*, Mechanochemical transformation of fluorescent hydrogel based ondynamic lanthanide-terpyridine coordination, Chin. Chem. Lett. 2023, 463, 142307. S. An#, X. Zhang#, M. Si, H. Shi, P. Wei, J. Shen,* W. Lu,* T. Chen, Self-healing, tough, red-to-near-infrared (NIR) luminescent organohydrogels derived from supramolecular assemblies of common aggregation-induced emissive luminogens, Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 463, 142307. + Cover Letter (Optional) + Statement of Research - Research Plan Topic: Synergetic shape morphing and color changing soft hydrogel actuators for testing and gripping Introduction: Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are appealing with their merits of large volume change and high-water conte (low solid/polymer fraction), which make the mechanical and many properties of hydrogel different fro solid/dry polymers, and swell and contract via absorbing and releasing water in and out their network (i.e osmotic-driven) upon environmental cues [e.g., temperature, pH, and light]. Their excellent softness, elasticit deformability, biocompatibility, stimulus diversity, and permeability (secure diffusion of oxygen, nutrient metabolites, and cells enabling) have promoted their broad application in tissue engineering, soft electronic miniaturized soft robotics and actuators, biomedicine, and mechano-therapeutic wound dressings. Howeve most of state-of-art hydrogel actuators can only demonstrate a single response once they are stimulate Synergetic responsive behaviors are expected to accomplish multiple tasks, including sensing, morphin indicating, color switching, at the same time for higher-level intelligence. The applicant has abundant experience in fluorescent material design and the team of Prof Ximin He ha profound results in constructing hydrogel actuators. Thus, the applicant planning to combine the hydrog actuators with fluorescent materials to achieve synergetic color changing and shape morphing. Such hydrog actuators with synergetic functions can be used as surgical grippers and transporters for delicate objects an provide indication for the users for basic physical (temperature, humidity) and chemical (including toxicity, pH oxidability) properties of the object. Such synergetic responsive can be utilized to provide the users with instin property information of the targets for self-protection and quick judgement, especially while the actuator wa utilized in surgeries and unknown spaces. Major plan: i. Synthesis of the fluorophore Naphthalimide (NI) luminogens is a novel plantform for novel fluorescent molecules with wide adjustab emission properties. Different from well-known AIE-active TPE fluorophores, the fluorescence nature of N luminogens depends on their chemical structures. Interestingly, substitution of NI molecules especially with rigi and bulky groups is favorable to disturbing their planarity to produce propeller-shaped molecular conformation which can significantly restrict H-aggregation and thus transform planar aggregation-caused-quenching (ACQ fluorophores into aggregation-induced-emission units (AIEgens). This strategy, which potentially resolves th ACQ hurdle of NI molecules by well-designed structural substitution, has been employed by many researc groups and significantly extended their potential applications. The applicant planing to introduce rigid phenox groups onto NI core in order to break its planarity to produce desirable propeller-shaped molecular conformatio and further render PhAN AIE nature. ii. fabrication of the hydrogel actuator with synergetic shape morphing and color-switching behavior. The afore-designed PhAN monomer will be introduced into hydrogel network through redical co-polymerizatio with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and certain amount of purified aniline, crosslinker and initiator i deionized water to obtain the hydrogel. The formula, temperature and near-infrared responsiveness of th hydrogel will be systematically investigated in order to give optimal actuation performance. The fluoresce property would also be investigated to give full comprehension of it property. iii. construction of the gripper and application exploration the hydrogel actuator would be molded and assembled to give hydrogel-based soft gripper. Its dimension an synergetic response ability would be adjusted. The application potential would be demonstrated in simulate circumstances. Major goal: i. Accomplishing the aforementioned major plan. ii Systematically organize the data and publish 1-2 SCI articles. (Optional) + Statement of Teaching (Optional) + Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our EDI Statement FAQ document, and Sample EDI Statements. + Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form + Misc / Additional (Optional) Reference requirements + 2-4 required (contact information only) none Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10143 Help contact: mhatanaka@seas.ucla.edu About UCLA As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy, please visit https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/\_files/apm/apm-035.pdf. For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination. As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer. + “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. + UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH) + UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties + APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/\_files/apm/apm-035.pdf) Job location 410 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90024