LBNL Faculty Scientist
Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley

nbalsara@cchem.berkeley.edu
phone: 510-642-8973

Education
B.Tech, Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University
Ph.D, Chemical Engineering,   Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota
Postdoctoral Fellow, Exxon Research and Engineering

Major Awards
2005 Charles Stine Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
1997 John H.  Dillon Medal for Polymer Physics from the American Physical Society
1994 National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award

General Research Interests
Our research program is concerned with the synthesis and characterization of soft microstructured materials such as block copolymer melts, polymer blends, and microemulsions.   We specialize in soft structures that self-assemble from the liquid state.  The structure can be altered by changing external variables such as temperature, pressure, and electric fields. Such subtle changes could lead to profound changes in the mechanical, optical and electrical properties of the material if they are accompanied by a microstructural transition.   These changes could be accomplished repeatedly and reversibly to perform complex functions. 

MSD Research Projects:

Soft Materials Microscopy

Personal website:  http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/npbgrp/