As a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow, Viviana Palacio-Betancur will begin research this fall on bridging molecular-scale interactions and macroscopic behavior of liquid crystal.
Palacio-Betancur earned her Ph.D. in molecular engineering from the University of Chicago in 2023, and she is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Illinois. She will collaborate this fall with Nicholas Jackson, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Charles Schroeder, the James Economy Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
“My research focuses on computational methods that enhance our ability to understand and design liquid crystal-based systems,” Palacio-Betancur said.
Using AI-driven molecular modeling that is accessible through the Molecule Maker Lab at the Beckman Institute, Palacio-Betancur aims to link the chemistry of liquid crystals to their macroscopic optical and mechanical properties.
The development of liquid crystal displays, or LCD, has opened the door to further explore the material’s properties and to address questions with both technological and biological implications. The work proposed here will enable the predictive design of liquid crystal-based elements, sensors and bioinspired systems.
“Being selected as a Beckman Fellow is a tremendous honor and an important milestone in my career. This fellowship will provide me with the tools, mentorship, and collaborative environment necessary to pursue high-level, interdisciplinary research,” said Palacio-Betancur.