Sara Vaiana
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PSF 346 Tempe, AZ 85287
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Mail code: 1504Campus: Tempe
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Sara M. Vaiana has a research background in soft matter physics applied to biological systems. Her research is driven by an interest in the fundamental physics of proteins and polymers, which may explain their behavior in biological systems. Her lab combines advanced laser spectroscopy techniques (time resolved pump-probe techniques, developed and built in her lab, and multi-angle static and dynamic light scattering), with other protein structure and dynamics characterization techniques. Her group works in close collaboration with theoretical and computational physics, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology groups. She applies concepts from phase transitions and polymer physics to understand structure, dynamics and self-assembly of proteins. Her research is focused on two main areas of interest: i) investigating the conformational ensembles and the dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), in relation to their biological function ii) understanding the mechanism and quantifying the driving forces which lead to liquid-liquid phase separation and amyloid protein aggregation and disease.
Ph.D. Physics, University of Palermo, Italy 2004
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 441 | Statistical/Thermal Physics |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 441 | Statistical/Thermal Physics |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 150 | Physics I |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 150 | Physics I |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 795 | Continuing Registration |
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 792 | Research |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHY 792 | Research |
| PHY 799 | Dissertation |
| PHY 312 | Mechanics and Electromagnetism |