Rowan Group

Members of the Rowan Group standing in front of Lake Michigan

The Rowan Group focuses on studying the chemistry of non-covalent interactions (supramolecular chemistry). This is embodied by studying the synthesis of metallosupramolecular and stimuli-resonsive polymers; isolation and utilization of cellulose nanocrystals in biomimetic and porous systems; and finally, reversible covalent chemistry.

Current research

Interested in joining this lab? 

Undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and researchers are encouraged to contact Prof. Rowan at his UChicago email listed below. Please include your name, contact information, and a short description on why you are interested in the lab. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Principal Investigator

Stuart Rowan

Stuart Rowan

Group Members
Publications
Impact of dynamic bond strength on the training of liquid crystal elastomers
Ghimire, E.; Appen, I. S.; Lindberg, C. A.; Blagitz de Abreu e Silva, L.; Rowan, S. J.
Ghimire, E.; Appen, I. S.; Lindberg, C. A.; Blagitz de Abreu e Silva, L.; Rowan, S. J. Impact of dynamic bond strength on the training of liquid crystal elastomers. Chemical Science 2026, 10.1039/D5SC07491F. DOI: 10.1039/D5SC07491F.
Chemical Science
2025
Depolymerization as a Design Strategy: Depolymerization Etching of Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separations
Kaden C. Stevens, K.C.; Lott, M.E.; Treaster, K.A.; O’Dea, R.M.; Adarsh Suresh, A.; Cabell B. Eades, C.B.; Thompson, V.L.; Bowman, J.I.; Young, J.B.; Evans, A.M.; Rowan, S.J.; Epps III, T.H.; Sumerlin, B.S. Depolymerization as a Design Strategy: Depolymerization Etching of Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separations ACS Cent. Sci. 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5c01313
ACS Central Science
2025
Real‐Time Phosphate Monitoring via Plant‐Derived Graphene Ink FET Sensors Integrated with Deep Learning
Ghosh, R.; Zhang, F.; Jang, H.-J.; Hui, J.; Vittore, K.; You, H.; Vepa, R.; Zhuang, W.; Huang, X.; Pu, H.; Elam, J. W.; Rowan, S.J.; Lee, D.; Ainsworth, E.A.; Hersam, M.C.; Chen, Y.; Chen, J. Real‐Time Phosphate Monitoring via Plant‐Derived Graphene Ink FET Sensors Integrated with Deep Learning Energy Environ. Mater. 2025, e70144. DOI: 10.1002/eem2.70144
Energy and Environmental Materials
2025
Thermoreversibly Assembled Polymersomes for Highly Efficient Loading, Processing, and Delivery of Protein and siRNA Biologics
Hossainy, S.; Kang, S.; Emiliano Gómez Medellín, J.; Alpar, A.T.; Refvik, K.C.; Ma, Y.; Vuong, I.; Chang, K.; Wang, T.; Solanki, A.; Rowan, S.J.; Hubbell, J.A. Thermoreversibly Assembled Polymersomes for Highly Efficient Loading, Processing, and Delivery of Protein and siRNA Biologics Nature Bioeng. 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-025-01469-7
Nature Biomedical Engineering
2025
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Alumni

About Us

The Rowan group is a conglomeration of chemists and engineers who are constantly striving to find new pathways to new materials.  Our work takes place in a variety of areas including cellulose nanocrystals, interlocked molecules, and stimuli-responsive materials.

Looking for the Group?

You can find all of the group members in our office in Eckhardt Research Center, Room 108 or in the lab in Room 220. 

Explore the materials research community at UChicago.
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Facilities

The Rowan Group has many instruments for material synthesis and characterization, but being at the University of Chicago enables the use of several different, high-quality, characterization facilities as well. This page lists many of these resources.

Explore materials research facilities at UChicago
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