Emerging Topics in the Behavior of Neat and Hybrid Polymer Materials

Polymer physics' broad and interdisciplinary spectrum of research impacts every industrial and manufacturing sector, from electronics to transportation to energy production. In 2016, the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Polymer Physics will focus on the latest research in both neat polymers (crystallization and crystalline polymers; segmental, chain, and ion dynamics; confined polymers) and hybrid polymer-based materials (polymer-polymer phase behavior; structured polymer conductors; block copolymer thin films; nanocomposites; ionomers). New developments from experiment, theory, and simulation will be featured, with nineteen full-length lectures, as well as a session on "Future Directions in Polymer Physics", featuring shorter talks from six younger independent investigators. Poster sessions and informal activities will provide ample opportunity to share and discuss the latest advances in polymer physics with the speakers, poster presenters, and other conference attendees.

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to apply not only to the GRC, but also to the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Polymer Physics, which will take place on the weekend immediately prior to the GRC. This third Polymer Physics GRS will provide a great opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to organize and present in a scientific conference. GRS attendees will share current research with their peers through oral and poster presentations; form new connections that may develop into future research collaborations; and discover the scope of research topics, methodologies, and career opportunities in the realm of polymer physics.

Poster Sessions: All Polymer Physics GRC attendees are encouraged to participate in the late afternoon and evening poster sessions. A poster title and abstract can be submitted when applying for the conference.

Mount Holyoke College: The site of the Polymer Physics GRC since 2010, its spacious, wooded campus includes a comfortable auditorium, good space for the poster session, new dormitories with air-conditioning, quiet walking trails, botanical gardens, a gym with pool, and tennis courts. Opportunities for cycling, canoeing, and hiking can be found nearby.