Oleg Gang

Oleg Gang is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University since 2016, and Group Leader for the Soft Matter and Biomaterials Theme at Brookhaven National Laboratory's Center for Functional Nanomaterials since 2008. His work bridges nanotechnology, soft matter physics, and biomaterials with emphasis on programmable nanoscale assembly.

His educational background includes MS and PhD in Physics from Bar-Ilan University, Israel (thesis: Structure of inner-shell electron levels in transition metals; dissertation: Surface Ordering in Chain Molecules), followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on Liquids on nanostructured surfaces.

Gang's research centers on DNA-guided assembly of nanoparticles into precise 2D/3D architectures, investigating phase behavior, optical properties, and mechanical resilience of these systems. He pioneers synchrotron-based X-ray methods to probe soft-hybrid material interfaces, with applications spanning nanophotonics, biomedicine, and advanced materials design. His group explores how bioencoding and geometric factors govern nanostructure formation and functionality.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in 3D nanoparticle lattice visualization, DNA-engineered phase regulation, and resilient nanomaterial frameworks, revealing fundamental principles of programmable matter. These works highlight interdisciplinary convergence of nanoscience, biophysics, and materials engineering.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Inventor of the Year, Battelle Award (2016)
• Top 10 Scientific Advances of 2016 at Brookhaven National Laboratory (2016)
• Fellow, American Physical Society (2014)
• Science and Technology Award for Outstanding Achievements, Brookhaven (2011)
• Gordon Battelle Prize for Scientific Discovery (2010)

As Group Leader at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Gang directs research leveraging DOE facility resources including synchrotron light sources. His team develops novel characterization techniques and assembly strategies to advance nanomaterial applications in energy, medicine, and quantum technologies, maintaining strong Columbia University-Brookhaven collaborations.