Assistant Professor Oded Rabin
About Dr. RabinPh.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004
Visit Dr. Rabin's personal page » Current Research Recent years have seen significant progress in the fabrication of nanoscale structures and in understanding the unusual physics that govern their properties. Dr. Rabin's efforts will be concentrated in developing methodologies to prepare new types of nanostructures that will have characteristics not found in larger materials. He is also interested in investigating the ways in which nanostructures interact differently with their environment: can they promote chemical reactions, absorb molecules, and manipulate light and electrons and spins? Dr. Rabin's research interests also include chemical sensing and molecule-nanoparticle interactions; advanced materials for thermoelectric energy generation; applications of nanoparticles as biomarkers for imaging, diagnosis, and repair; porous anodic alumina scaffolds; and molecular and nanoparticle transport in microfluidic devices.
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Q&A with Dr. RabinWhat impact could your work have on society or consumers? On one hand, my scientific research may proceed according to a premeditated plan, and I will demonstrate that the nanostructures I have developed can be used as an ultra-sensitive detection tools for diagnostic biomarkers, or as the core component of a high-capacity energy storage device. Those will be exciting accomplishments with important technological implications. On the other hand, my work might lead to completely unexpected discoveries, and that will be equally exciting! In the words of Albert Einstein: "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" What attracted you to the Clark School? I found the right environment to embark on interdisciplinary and innovative research at the University of Maryland. Its capabilities are constantly growing and there are great facilities on campus and in the local area. There is a momentum here—people are excited about nanoscience, collaborative efforts, and getting things done. There has been also a strong recruitment of young faculty in recent years. Personally, I also liked the location and the convenience of having two major cities [Baltimore and Washington, D.C.] nearby. Why should young engineers consider materials science and engineering for their field of study? Many reasons! First and foremost, this is an interdisciplinary area, where principles of physics, chemistry and engineering are being applied. As a result, students get a broad education and become comfortable working in various environments. Future jobs will most likely require interdisciplinary experiences and the ability to communicate with a broad range of specialists. We provide exactly that!
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Before joining the faculty as a joint apointee to the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics (IREAP) in Fall 2007, Dr. Rabin held postdoctoral positions with the Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital, and with the University of California, Berkeley. His work is supported by the Department of Business and Economic Development's Nano-Biotechnology Initiative. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the synthesis and application of nanosized materials.
