{"id":117,"date":"2018-04-10T23:24:12","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T23:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cbee\/?p=117"},"modified":"2018-04-10T23:30:33","modified_gmt":"2018-04-10T23:30:33","slug":"cory-simon-interesting-things-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cbee\/2018\/04\/10\/cory-simon-interesting-things-everywhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Cory Simon: Interesting things are everywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Cory
Cory Simon is interested in how mathematical abstractions at molecular scales can reveal insights into the behavior of materials.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cory Simon<\/strong><\/a>, assistant professor of chemical engineering, says his approach to teaching is informed by his belief that even the simplest of things can be <\/span>interesting<\/span> once you understand them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would much rather think about rubber bands than watch sports,\u201d Simon said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Richard Feynman described rubber as molecular spaghetti<\/span>. With this molecular picture, y<\/span>ou can show through statistical thermodynamics why the tension increases when you heat a rubber band. <\/span>It\u2019s fascinating.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Like Feynman, the Nobel physicist and consummate professor, Simon is possessed with a vibrant curiosity. Simon says he hopes to instill that same enthusiasm and excitement in his students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to <\/span>convey<\/span> that<\/span>, in contrast to stereotypes,<\/span> engineering isn\u2019t a dry <\/span>or<\/span> boring subject.\u201d he said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>In addition to intellectual entertainment<\/span>, <\/span>chemical engineering is<\/span> an <\/span>incredibly useful <\/span>way of thinking<\/span> that can be used to dramatically improve human welfare.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Simon is particularly interested in how mathematical abstractions <\/span>at molecular scales <\/span>can reveal insights into <\/span>the behavior of materials<\/span>. His doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, involved mathematical and computational modeling of metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, a novel class of<\/span> solid materials with some very useful properties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The crystal structure of a metal-organic framework called HKUST-1 reveals nano-sized pores that can hold gas molecules in place, like eggs in a carton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MOFs combine metal ions or clusters with organic linking molecules to form thin-walled molecular lattices with nano-sized pores. Their structure creates a huge surface area enfolded into a tiny volume, enabling MOFs to adsorb large quantities of gas.<\/span> This property lends MOFs applications for gas storage and separations. Simon has studied MOFs for their ability to store natural gas onboard vehicles for fuel and capture radioactive gases from used nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>An<\/span> especially exciting <\/span>feature of<\/span> MOFs is th<\/span>eir modular chemistry<\/span>,\u201d Simon said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>As designer materials, we <\/span>can judiciously change the m<\/span>olecular building blocks<\/span> to <\/span>synthesize a<\/span> predetermined MOF structure<\/span> and target a specific gas molecule<\/span>. There are millions of different possibilities.\u201d<\/span> In his research, Simon employs molecular models and simulations to sift through the many possible MOFs and predict which are best for adsorbing different gases.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Diagram
Metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, assemble from molecular building blocks, like Tinker Toys.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MOFs get even more <\/span>interesting<\/span> when you throw dynamic parts, such as rotating ligands and flexible lattices, into the mix. <\/span>Part of <\/span>Simon\u2019s w<\/span>ork is in<\/span> developing simplified models to describe the statistical thermodynamics of how these flexible and dynamic parts interact with gas molecules.<\/span><\/p>\n

His enthusiasm for MOFs notwithstanding, Simon\u2019s expertise and skills as a theoretician have broad applicability throughout the field of chemical engineering. So he doesn\u2019t feel bound by any particular area of inquiry as he develops his own research program at Oregon State, at least not at this stage in his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spent stints working in polymers, mathematical biology, computational neuroscience, materials science, and genomics,\u201d Simon said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>I even spent a term working as a data scientist at Stitch Fix, a clothing company in San Francisco. As long as mathematics and computer programming are involved, I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His current projects provide a glimpse into the eclectic nature of his interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, he\u2019s working on a physics-based model to explain the formation and persistence of fairy circles, the mysterious, round patches of barren earth sprinkled throughout the grasslands of Australia and Africa. The circles form a regular pattern, and they shrink and expand depending on how much it rains. Various causes have been suggested for their appearance, including termites and plant toxins. But the problem is still shrouded in uncertainty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, he\u2019s working in collaboration with the Altius Institute of Biomedical Sciences, where he was a fellow in 2017, on developing machine-learning <\/span>models<\/span> to make sense of high-throughput genomic assays.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>With such models, we can<\/span> extract biological insights from large and noisy <\/span>genomics <\/span>data set<\/span>s<\/span>,\u201d Simon said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>A fundamental understanding of gene regulation will lead to cures for developmental disorders, treatments for cancer, and increases in longevity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With such a diverse assortment of intellectual appetites, Simon says he has to be careful to pace himself. He offers the following quote from Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR pioneer and professor of chemistry at Berkeley, describing two different types of scientist:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne is the type who dives very deeply into one topic for their whole career and they know it better than anybody else in the world. Then there\u2019s the other<\/span> \u2026 where it\u2019s like you\u2019re at a buffet table and you see an interesting thing here and do it for a while, and that connects you to another interesting thing and you take a bit of that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In that context, Simon says, he sees himself at a buffet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more about Cory Simon’s work on his website,\u00a0<\/span>The Simon Research Ensemble<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cory Simon, assistant professor of chemical engineering, says his approach to teaching is informed by his belief that even the simplest of things can be interesting once you understand them. \u201cI would much rather think about rubber bands than watch sports,\u201d Simon said. \u201cRichard Feynman described rubber as molecular spaghetti. With this molecular picture, you … <\/p>\n

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