Rana Ashkar

Rana Ashkar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech's College of Science. His research focuses on experimental condensed matter physics and soft matter/biological physics, with particular emphasis on lipid membranes and polymer systems. He leads the Ashkar Research Group, which explores biomimetic lipid membranes, polymeric materials, and their applications in biophysical systems. Key research themes include membrane dynamics, cholesterol effects, and neutron scattering techniques.

His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining neutron spin echo spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental materials science. Recent studies investigate lipid membrane stiffness, protein-membrane interactions, and functional polymers for nanofluidic applications. The group's projects span from fundamental physics to applied health and disease contexts, such as drug delivery systems and membrane stability enhancement.

Ashkar's research has produced over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2015, with notable contributions on cholesterol-induced membrane stiffening and pHLIP peptide effects. His lab collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to advance neutron scattering methodologies and apply them to complex biological systems. Current efforts include developing stimuli-responsive polymer brushes and studying lipid phase behavior under varying conditions.