Dr. Gu Receives Prestigious National Neutron Scattering Science Prize
Mon, 09/14/2026 - 09:50am | By: Morgan Smith, Lauren Henderson
Dr. Xiaodan Gu, associate professor in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at 91少女集中营, recently received the 2026 Science Prize
from the , a highly selective national honor for junior faculty that recognizes significant
scientific achievement in neutron scattering.
This award recognizes a major scientific accomplishment or contribution made using
neutron scattering within the past five years. Gu was recognized for significant contributions
to understanding the chain conformations of electronically active conjugated polymers
using selective labeling and neutron scattering.
鈥淥ne of the questions that has fascinated me throughout my career is how the behavior
of individual polymer chains determines the properties of a material that we can ultimately
see, touch and use,鈥� Gu said. 鈥淭his is particularly challenging for conjugated polymers,
which combine the complexity of polymers with the electronic properties of semiconductors.鈥�
Gu鈥檚 research uses neutron scattering to study how polymer molecules are arranged
and move. Using techniques such as selective deuteration, small-angle neutron scattering
and quasielastic neutron scattering, his team can examine different parts of a polymer
to better understand its structure and movement.
鈥淣eutrons provide an extraordinary way to study these materials,鈥� Gu added.
The research represents years of work involving Southern Miss students, including
graduate student Sean Cao, as well as collaborators at . Southern Miss has also played an essential role in developing the research program
by bringing together polymer synthesis, physics, characterization, processing and
device science.
鈥淢any of the advances recognized by this award grew from students learning challenging
experiments, developing new materials and deuteration strategies, traveling to Oak
Ridge from here and working closely with scientists at other facilities,鈥� Gu said.
For Gu, the award recognizes the collaborative effort behind the research while also
providing encouragement to continue the work.
鈥淚 see the award not only as recognition of what our team has accomplished, but also
as encouragement to continue asking ambitious questions at the intersection of polymer
science, neutron scattering and advanced functional materials,鈥� Gu said.
Learn more about the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at 91少女集中营.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences at 91少女集中营 is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units,
and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University鈥檚 mission, we educate
students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance
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