The Composto Research Group investigates polymer science and biomolecular engineering research. Broadly, our research uses polymer physics, biology, and chemistry principles to engineer interfaces, thermodynamics and dynamics of hybrid systems.  Assembly-structure-property relationships in soft matter are an underlying research theme.  By understanding the thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of soft matter, advanced polymer composites are created by controlling surface segregation, phase separation, distribution of filler and nanoparticles and molecular/particle transport. Systems of interest include polymer nanocomposites, charged polymer nanocomposites, polymer infiltrated scaffolds, and charged brushes for selective capture of nanoparticles. Biomolecular studies investigate the formation of lipid bilayers on biomaterial surfaces and the delivery of therapeutics using lipid nanoparticles. Applications range from improving th emechanical and optical properties of coatings to target drug delivery.  Autonomous experimentation approaches are being used to rapidly screen and identify composites with optimum structure-property relationships