Exploring the Structure and Dynamics of Charged Polymers: Visit by Mr Yiheng Wu from the University of Chicago

Yiheng Wu, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Chicago, visited us on December 16, 2024, and delivered an insightful talk titled “Structure and Dynamics of Charged Polymers”. Wu, who earned his undergraduate degree in Polymer Science from Tsinghua University under the mentorship of Prof. Xi Zhang, is now pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of Chicago, working with Prof. Juan de Pablo and Prof. Tobin Sosnick.

In his talk, Wu delved into the complex structures and dynamics of charged macromolecules, such as ampholytic polyelectrolytes and RNA. He highlighted their significance in biological functions and applications, while also discussing the limitations of current computational models. He shared key breakthroughs from his lab, including the development of the coarse-grained RNA model “CRANBERRY” and the creation of a scaling diagram of states to map charge-blocking and solvent quality.

This lecture also served as an extension of the “Polymer Physics” course for the Tang Au-Chin class, offering students fresh insights into Blob models and scaling analysis. It provided a great example of what a top Ph.D. student should aim for: deep knowledge of the field, clear professional insights, and the confidence to engage in meaningful academic debates.

（Drafted by Zhaolin Zhu，reviewed by Guanglu）