Steve Whitelam
Staff Scientist, Theory of Nanostructured Materials Facility
swhitelam@lbl.gov
510.495.2769
Research Interests
I study soft matter systems, both biological and inorganic, using models and methods based on statistical mechanics.
Recent Projects
- Self-assembly of amphiphilic peanut-shaped nanoparticles
We use computer simulation to investigate the self-assembly of Janus-like amphiphilic peanut-shaped nanoparticles, finding phases of clusters, bilayers and micelles, all in accordance with ideas of packing familiar from the study of molecular surfactants. However, packing arguments do not explain the hierarchical self-assembly dynamics that we observe, nor the coexistence of bilayers and hollow, faceted capsids. This coexistence suggests the experimental realization of multipotent assembly of competing, ordered structures. Learn more
- S. Whitelam and S.A.F. Bon
- Dynamic actin patterns in vivo
- Transformation from Spots to Waves in a Model of Actin Pattern Formation
Nanostructured actin networks in certain single-celled organisms exhibit a complex pattern-forming dynamic that involves a transformation of spot-like actin solitons into waves that resemble motility-inducing ‘leading edges’. We propose a possible physical mechanism for this transformation within the framework of an excitable reaction-diffusion system. Learn more
- S. Whitelam, T. Bretschneider and N.J. Burroughs
- Transformation from Spots to Waves in a Model of Actin Pattern Formation
Selected Publications
- Transformation from spots to waves in a model of actin pattern formation, S. Whitelam, T. Bretschneider and N.J. Burroughs, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 198103 (2009).
- The impact of conformational fluctuations on self-assembly: Cooperative aggregation of archaeal chaperonin proteins, S. Whitelam, C. Rogers, A. Pasqua, C. Paavola, J. Trent and P. L. Geissler, Nano Letters, 9, p. 292-297 (2009).
- There and (slowly) back again: Entropy-driven hysteresis in a model of DNA overstretching, S. Whitelam, S. Pronk and P.L. Geissler, Biophys. J. 94, 2452 (2008).
- Avoiding unphysical kinetic traps in Monte Carlo simulations of strongly attractive particles, S. Whitelam and P.L. Geissler, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 1 (2007).
Education
2004 Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, Linacre College, University of Oxford. Supervised by Juan P. Garrahan and David Sherrington
2001 MPhys, Trinity College, University of Oxford
Previous Positions
2007-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick. Supervised by Nigel Burroughs
2004-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley. Supervised by Phillip L. Geissler
Links
Steve Whitelam Web Page - Theory Facility
