Gregory Grason

Gregory Grason is a Professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, affiliated with the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research. His work bridges condensed matter theory, statistical physics, and differential geometry to study geometric frustration in soft matter and polymeric assemblies.

• PhD in Physics, University of Pennsylvania, 2005
• BA in Physics, University of Pennsylvania, 2000

His research focuses on how geometric frustration—local incompatibility in molecular or particulate building blocks—drives self-organization of complex, robust structures across scales. Current projects include:

• Morphology selection in 2D soft matter, analyzing non-planar geometries in thin sheets and membranes.
• Programmable self-assembly principles inspired by biological systems and synthetic design (e.g., DNA origami).
• Filamentous matter studies, linking one-dimensional intra-filament properties to multi-filament organization.
• Complex macromolecular mesophases, such as block copolymer assemblies with polycontinuous networks.

His group’s publications span journals like Nature Communications, PNAS, Physical Review Letters, and Soft Matter, with recent emphasis on scale-dependent behaviors and design principles for frustrated assemblies. Key awards include the NSF CAREER Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, and Fellow of the American Physical Society, with funding from the NSF, Department of Energy, and ACS PRF.

Grason’s lab trains future scientists in theoretical modeling and interdisciplinary approaches, while his editorial roles (e.g., New Journal of Physics) shape the field’s discourse.