Summary
I am a research associate within the Polymers & Microfluidics group headed by Professor João T. Cabral. My research focuses on the spontaneous and stimulated assemblies of soft materials, their thermodynamic and non-equilibrium properties and response to external perturbations (flow, temperature, pH, solvents). My research spans multiple length scales; probing conformation of polymers, or shape of surfactant aggregates and mesophases, with small angle neutron scattering (SANS) as well as fabricating micron-scale polymer capsules with microfluidics and tuning the triggered release of encapsulated materials through design of capsule microstructure. I aim to not only address open, fundamental questions within the field of soft matter engineering but deliver translatable solutions to industries and ultimately society.
Awards & Bursaries
- EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow | 'Morphogenesis of Green Polymer Capsules in Acoustic Levitation' | EPSRC | 2020-21
-IYPT Members Networks Grant | Assistance in running of 'The Chemistry Communicators' Challenge' | RSC | 2019
-Researcher Mobility Grant | Collaboration with Professor Rodney D. Priestley in Princeton, US | RSC | 2018
-Research Student Conference Fund | Conference travel to Los Angeles for the APS March Meeting | IOP | 2018
Conference Presentations
- March Meeting | Probing Polymer Solution Conformation along Microparticle Formation Pathways with SANS | Boston | APS | 2019
- March Meeting | Microfluidic Solvent Extraction for Precise Formation of Polymer Particles and Capsules | Los Angeles | APS | 2018
- Physical Aspects of Polymer Science | Microfluidic Solvent Extraction for Precise Formation of Polymer Particles and Capsules Swansea | IOP | 2017
teaching & Outreach
Outside of the laboratory and office, I have spent 3 years working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) within the chemical engineering department and am part of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) local section committee, organising chemistry based events for the general public, students (secondary-university) and RSC members within London. I was heavily involved in the conception and production of "The Chemistry Communicators' Challenge" - a London-based science communication event aimed at bolstering student CVs and re-engaging chemists with the subject (https://www.rsc.org/news-events/community/2018/nov/chemistry-communicators-challenge/).
Publications
Journals
Rafique AS, Khodaparast S, Poulos AS, et al., 2020, Micellar structure and transformations in sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate (NaLAS) aqueous solutions: effects of concentration, temperature, and salt, Soft Matter, Vol:16, ISSN:1744-683X, Pages:7835-7844
Khodaparast S, Sharratt WN, Tyagi G, et al., 2020, Pure and mixed aqueous micellar solutions of Sodium Dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Dimethyldodecyl Amine Oxide (DDAO): Role of temperature and composition., J Colloid Interface Sci, Vol:582, Pages:1116-1127
Sharratt WN, O’Connell R, Rogers SE, et al., 2020, Conformation and phase behavior of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in the presence of mono- and divalent salts, Macromolecules, Vol:53, ISSN:0024-9297, Pages:1451-1463
Aoki Y, Sharratt W, Wang H, et al., 2020, Effect of tacticity on the phase behavior and demixing of p alpha MSAN/dPMMA blends investigated by SANS, Macromolecules, Vol:53, ISSN:0024-9297, Pages:445-457