George Thurston Headshot

George Thurston

Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
Director of Physics MS Program
Program Faculty, School of Mathematics and Statistics
gmtsps@rit.edu
585-475-4549
Office Location
GOS-3302

George Thurston

Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
Director of Physics MS Program
Program Faculty, School of Mathematics and Statistics

Education

AB, Oberlin College; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bio

My research work is primarily in biological physics.  In our lab we conduct experimental and theoretical studies of phase transitions, solution phase properties and critical phenomena in a variety of complex fluids. I am particularly interested in the physical and chemical aspects of protein condensation diseases, including cataract and sickle cell disease. 

We employ the techniques of quasielastic and static light scattering, x-ray scattering, neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Monte Carlo simulation to study protein mixtures, intrinsically disordered peptides, micelles, microemulsions, and other biological polymers.  

Current experimental projects include studies of solutions of eye lens crystallin proteins and their mixtures, of the biological polymer, hyaluronate, and of mixtures that include the peptide, protamine.  Another current project is to develop theory and methods for combining polarized neutron scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance in the same instrument, which has the potential to greatly refine probabilistic structural information about macromolecular liquids.  We are also developing models of charge regulation-mediated interactions between proteins, and developing light scattering theory and methods for noninvasive measurement of the Gibbs free energies of mixing of liquid mixtures. 

 

gmtsps@rit.edu
585-475-4549
Areas of Expertise
Biological Physics
Static and Quasielastic Light Scattering
Neutron Scattering
X-ray Scattering
Micelles and Microemulsions
Protein Solution Statistical Thermodynamics

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Vodnala, Preeti, et al. "Hard-Sphere-Like Dynamics in Highly Concentrated Alpha-Crystallin Suspensions." Physical Review E 97. (2018): 020601-1 - 020601-5. Print.
Thurston, George M. and Michael Kotlarchyk. "Basis for Calculating Cross Sections for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spin-Modulated Polarized Neutron Scattering." Journal of Chemical Physics 145. (2016): 1-10. Web.
Thurston, George M., Joel D. Shore, and George M. Thurston. "Charge-regulation phase transition on surface lattices of titratable sites adjacent to electrolytesolutions: An analog of the Ising antiferromagnet in a magnetic field." Physical Review E 92. (2015): 062123-1--062123-15. Print.
Thurston, George M., Joel D. Shore, and George M. Thurston. "Charge-regulation phase transition on surface lattices of titratable sites adjacent to electrolytesolutions: An analog of the Ising antiferromagnet in a magnetic field." Physical Review E 92. (2015): 062123-1--062123-15. Print.
Foffi, Giuseppe, et al. "Hard Sphere-Like Glass Transition in Eye Lens α-Crystallin Solutions." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 111. 47 (2014): 16748–16753. Print.
Wahle, Chris W., David S. Ross, and George M. Thurston. "Mathematical Methods for Restricted Domain Ternary Liquid Mixture Free Energy Determination Using Light Scattering." Journal of Chemical Physics 139. (2013): 124114. Print.
Wahle, Christopher W., David S. Ross, and George M. Thurston. "On the Design of Experiments for Determining Ternary Mixture Free Energies from Static Light Scattering Data using a Nonlinear Partial Differential Equation." Journal of Chemical Physics 137. (2012): 34201. Print.
Wahle, Christopher W., David S. Ross, and George M. Thurston. "Mathematical and Computational Aspects of Quaternary Liquid Mixing Free Energy Measurement Using Light Scattering." Journal of Chemical Physics 137. (2012): 34202. Print.
Wahle, Christopher W., David S. Ross, and George M. Thurston. "On Inferring Liquid-Liquid Phase Boundaries and Tie Lines from Ternary Mixture Light Scattering." Journal of Chemical Physics 137. (2012): 34203. Print.
Banerjee, Priya R., et al. "Cataract-associated Mutant E107A of Human Gamma D-crystallin Shows Increased Attraction to Alpha-crystallin and Enhanced Light Scattering." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 108. 2 (2011): 574-579. Print.
Dorsaz, Nicolas, et al. "Phase Separation in Binary Eye Lens Protein Mixtures." Soft Matter 7. 5 (2011): 1763-1776. Print.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Thurston, George M. "Steps Towards Modeling Concentration-Dependent Effects of Charge Regulation on Protein Solution Thermodynamics and Liquid-liquid Phase Separation." KAW Midterm Meeting. Physical Chemistry/Lund University. Lund, Sweden. 16 May 2018. Conference Presentation.
Thurston, George M., et al. "Model for Concentration-Dependent Effects of Charge Regulation on Protein Solution Thermodynamics and Liquid-liquid Phase Separation." American Physical Society March Meeting. American Physical Society. Los Angeles, CA. 7 Mar. 2018. Conference Presentation.
Thurston, George M. "Liquid-liquid Phase Separation in Concentrated Protein Mixtures, with Application to Cataract." Seminar at Union College, Schenectady, New York. Physics Department, Union College. Schenectady, NY. 1 Nov. 2018. Guest Lecture.
Thurston, George M. "Rotational and Translational Diffusion of Eye Lens Gamma Crystallin at Low and Intermediate Concentrations." Lund Institute for Neutron and Xray Science (LINXS) Workshop on Dynamics of Proteins. Physical Chemistry/Lund University. Lund, Sweden, N/A. 5 Jun. 2018. Conference Presentation.
Published Article
Hollenbeck, Dawn, M. K. Martini, A. Langner, A. Harkin, D. Ross,and G. Thurston. “Model for evaluatingpatterned charge-regulation contributionsto electrostatic interactions betweenlow-dielectric spheres.” Physical Review E, 82.3 (2010): n.p. Web. "  É  *
Banerjee, Priya R, A. Pande, J. Patrosz, G. M. Thurston and J. Pande. “Cataract-associated mutant E107A of human _D-crystallin shows increased attraction to _-crystallin and enhanced light scattering”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010. n.p. Web. É  *

Currently Teaching

PHYS-614
Quantum Theory
3 Credits
This course is a graduate level introduction to the modern formulation of quantum mechanics. Topics include Hilbert space, Dirac notation, quantum dynamics, Feynman’s formulation, representation theory, angular momentum, identical particles, approximation methods including time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory. The course will emphasize the underlying algebraic structure of the theory with an emphasis on current applications.
PHYS-640
Statistical Physics
3 Credits
This course is a graduate-level study of the concepts and mathematical structure of statistical physics. Topics include the microcanonical, canonical, and grand-canonical ensembles and their relationships to thermodynamics, including classical, Fermi, and Bose-Einstein statistics. The course includes illustrations and applications from the theories of phase transitions, solids, liquids, gases, radiation, soft condensed matter, and chemical and electrochemical equilibria. The course also treats non-equilibrium topics including the kinetic theory of transport processes, the theory of Brownian motion, and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem.
PHYS-751
Soft Matter Physics
3 Credits
This course is a graduate-level study of the physics of soft matter systems. Topics include the forces between molecules and surfaces, statistical models of soft matter solutions, self-assembly, elasticity, and viscoelasticity. The course includes illustrations and applications to polymers, colloids, surfactants, liquid crystals, and gels.
PHYS-790
Graduate Research & Thesis
1 - 4 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
PHYS-791
Continuation of Thesis
0 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.

In the News

  • August 27, 2018

    The Inclusive Excellence researchers pose for a photo together in front of their research posters.

    Inclusive Excellence cultivates diversity

    The first Inclusive Excellence research fellowship was held this summer and paired seven undergraduate students in the College of Science with research mentors. The initiative is working to create a deeper understanding of diversity in the College of Science and at RIT.
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