Molecular simulation of bioderived polyurethane
Molecular simulation of gold nanoparticle assembly
Polymer deformation molecular dynamics simulation
Quantum dot crosslinking simulation

Robert Scanlon Ramji

PhD Candidate in Nanoengineering at UC San Diego

Specializing in Nano-scale Materials Simulations

About Me

I am a PhD candidate in the Nanoengineering program at UC San Diego, co-advised by Prof. Tod Pascal and Prof. Darren Lipomi. My research focuses on atomistic simulations of polymer systems, polymer-bio interfaces, and organic molecular systems. I use simulations as a computational microscope to understand nanoscale phenomena and explore high-throughput materials design.

Research Focus

Molecular simulations of sustainable polymers, semiconducting polymers, engineered living materials, nanoparticle-ligand dynamics

International Experience

Studied at Fudan University, Shanghai (2017) | Mandarin Speaker

Research

Current Projects

  • Simulating crosslinking and swelling dynamics in QD films
  • Developing AI tutors to support undergraduate students in Nanoengineering and beyond
  • Exploring electron delocalization as a means to improve force fields for conjugated polymers
  • Prediciting mechanical properties of bioderived, biodegradable polyurethane materials

Areas of Expertise

  • Atomistic Simulations
  • Force Field Development
  • Multicomponent Nanoparticle Systems
  • Organic Molecular Systems
  • High-Throughput Materials Design

Technical Skills

  • Python, Bash, HPC
  • Free energy methods
  • Advanced sampling
  • MD simulations
  • QM simulations

Education

PhD in Nanoengineering

University of California San Diego

Current

MRSEC-supported trainee in IRG-2 (NSF Award DMR-2011924)

M.S. in Nanoengineering

University of California San Diego

2021

B.S. in Nanoengineering & B.A. in Chinese Studies

University of California San Diego

2020

Double Major

Publications

View complete publication list on Google Scholar

2024

Conductive Block Copolymer Elastomers and Psychophysical Thresholding for Accurate Haptic Effects

Rachel Blau, Abdulhameed Abdal, ...Robert S. Ramji, et al.

Science Robotics (2024)

Introduction to Nanoengineering

Robert S. Ramji and Darren J. Lipomi

Royal Society of Chemistry (2024)

Use of Materials Science to Understand Haptic Perception

Laura L. Becerra, Nicholas Root, Robert S. Ramji, Romke Rouw, and Darren J. Lipomi

Accounts of Materials Research (2024)

2023

Decoupling Planarizing and Steric Energetics to Accurately Model the Rigidity of π-Conjugated Polymers

Andrew T. Kleinschmidt, Alexander X. Chen, Robert S. Ramji, Tod A. Pascal, and Darren J. Lipomi

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2023)

Upcoming

Mechanism of Cationic Peptide-Induced Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles: Modulation of Electrostatic Repulsion

In preparation

Contact

For research collaborations or inquiries, please reach out:

Department of Nanoengineering, UC San Diego

rramji [at] ucsd [dot] edu