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Robert M. Elder, PhD

I'm a computational materials scientist, biophysicist, and data scientist at the Food & Drug Administration. I use computational modeling and data mining to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices, like coronary stents, bone screws, and even thermometers. This page describes some of the projects I'm working on.

Previously, I worked at the Army Research Lab, where I used computer simulations to understand how atomic-level features of synthetic and bio-inspired materials translate into macroscopic properties. Using a close coupling of experiments and simulations, we designed materials with better performance under extreme conditions.

Before that, my PhD advisor was Arthi Jayaraman. In the Jayaraman group, I focused on the use of computer simulation and free energy calculations to understand the molecular-level interactions of nucleic acids with proteins, small molecules, polycations, and functionalized surfaces. Our goal was to guide experimental efforts in drug design, gene delivery, and the self-assembly of DNA-based materials.

Curriculum Vitae