Faculty Profiles

Michael Rubinstein
Michael Rubinstein
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
Hudson Hall, Rm. 144, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-5365
michael.rubinstein@duke.edu
Rubinstein Lab
Research Interests: 

The research of the Rubinstein group is in the field of polymer theory and computer simulations. The unique properties of polymeric systems are due to the size, topology and interactions of the molecules they are made of. Our goal is to understand the properties of various polymeric systems and to design new systems with even more interesting and useful properties.

Our approach is based upon building and solving simple molecular models of different polymeric systems. The models we develop are simple enough to be solved either analytically or numerically, but contain the main features leading to unique properties of real polymers. Computer simulations of our models serve as an important bridge between analytical calculations and experiments.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., Harvard University 1983

Rubinstein, Michael, and Andrey V. Dobrynin. Solutions of Associative Polymers Associative Polymers View project Wetting and Adhesion in Soft Matter View project. 1997.

Panyukov, Sergei, and Michael Rubinstein. “Stress-Induced Ordering in Microphase-Separated Multicomponent Networks.” Macromolecules, vol. 29, no. 25, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 1996, pp. 8220–30. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma960721b. Full Text

Dobrynin, Andrey V., et al. “Cascade of Transitions of Polyelectrolytes in Poor Solvents.” Macromolecules, vol. 29, no. 8, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 1996, pp. 2974–79. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma9507958. Full Text

Rubinstein, Michael, et al. “Elastic Modulus and Equilibrium Swelling of Polyelectrolyte Gels.” Macromolecules, vol. 29, no. 1, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 1996, pp. 398–406. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma9511917. Full Text

Boris, David, and Michael Rubinstein. “A Self-Consistent Mean Field Model of a Starburst Dendrimer:  Dense Core vs Dense Shell.” Macromolecules, vol. 29, no. 22, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 1996, pp. 7251–60. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma960397k. Full Text

Lee, Namkyoung, et al. “Deterministic model of DNA gel electrophoresis Deterministic model of DNA gel electrophoresis in strong electric fields.” Electrophoresis, vol. 17, 1996, pp. 1011–17.

Dobrynin, A. V., and M. Rubinstein. “Flory Theory of a Polyampholyte Chain.” Phys. Ii (France), vol. 5, 1995, pp. 677–677.

Dobrynin, Andrey V., et al. “Scaling Theory of Polyelectrolyte Solutions.” Macromolecules, vol. 28, 1995, pp. 1859–71.

Turner, Matthew S., et al. “Surface-Induced Lamellar Ordering in a Hexagonal Phase of Diblock Copolymers.” Macromolecules, vol. 27, no. 18, American Chemical Society (ACS), Aug. 1994, pp. 4986–92. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma00096a021. Full Text

Joanny, Jean-François, et al. “Loop statistics in adsorbed polymer solutions.” Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 86, Elsevier BV, July 1994, pp. 133–36. Crossref, doi:10.1016/0927-7757(94)02842-7. Full Text

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