Professor Yu's research interests lie primarily in the synthesis, characterization and application of organic materials with controlled molecular architecture, particularly materials that are inspired by biological systems. Application of organic and biological materials in complex technology requires the ability to specify the structure and properties of the material precisely at the molecular level. Proteins are unique macromolecules that are present in nature as highly controlled molecules both in terms of chemical structure and three dimensional architecture. Utilizing the principles of protein structure and the concepts of material science as a guide, non-natural protein based materials can be designed that are capable of self-assembly into precisely defined structures. These materials form the basis for a new generation of "designer" biomolecular materials in which both structural and functional properties can be programmed into the polymer at the molecular level.

The major focus of Prof. Yu's research is in developing and applying various polypeptide synthesis methodologies to create novel protein-based materials for future technologies such as biomedical materials, liquid crystal materials, and nanoelectronic materials.

For instance, Prof. Yu is interested in using genetically engineered membrane protein crystal patches to create nanocrystal arrays. The ability to manipulate nanocrystals into robust integrated structures will be essential to their application in future nanoelectronics. In this work, he is developing a new nano-scale patterning method by combining nature's nanometer-scale self-assembly capabilities with modern technologies in genetic engineering and surface chemistry. Another area of prime interests is chemical synthesis of biopolymers and controlled immobilzation of biopolymers on solid substrates.

"Solubilization of Bacteriorhodopsin and Bovine Rhodopsin with an Architecturally Novel Synthetic Amphiphile" Seungju M. Yu, D. Tyler McQuade, Mariah A. Quinn, Christian Hackenburger, Arthur S. Polans, Mark P. Krebs, and Samuel H. Gellman. Protein Sci. 9, 2518 (2000).

"Rigid Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Manipulation" D. Tyler McQuade, Mariah A. Quinn, Seungju M. Yu, Mark P. Krebs, and Samuel H. Gellman. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 39, 758 (2000).

"Thermal and Structural Properties of Biologically Derived Monodisperse Hairy-Rod Polymers" Seungju M. Yu, and David A. Tirrell. Biomacromolecules 1, 310 (2000).

"Nanometer-Scale Smectic Ordering of Genetically Engineered Rod-Like Polymers" Seungju M. Yu, Carissa M. Soto, and David A. Tirrell, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 6552 (2000).

"Structure of PBLG Monolayers at the Gas-Water Interface" M. Fukuto, R. K. Heilmann, P. S. Pershan, S. M. Yu, J. A. Griffiths, and D. A. Tirrell J. Chem. Phys. 111, 9761 (1999).

"A Twisting Grain Boundary-like Twisted Smectic Phase in Monodisperse PBLG Produced by Recombinant DNA techniques" S. Hye, C. Lee, S. P. Gido, S. M. Yu, and D. A. Tirrell Macromolecules 31, 9387 (1998).

"X-ray Measurements of Noncapillary Fluctuations from Liquid Surface" M. Fukuto, R. K. Heilmann, P. S. Pershan, J. A. Griffiths, S. M. Yu, and D. A. Tirrell. Phys. Rev. Lett. 81 3455 (1998).

"Smectic Ordering in Solutions and Films of a Rod-Like Polymer Owing to Monodispersity of Chain Length" Seungju M. Yu, Vincent P. Conticello, Guanghui Zhang, Christoph Kayser, Maurille J. Fournier, Thomas L. Mason, and David A. Tirrell, Nature 389 167 (1997).

"Differential Scanning Calorimetric Study of Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Inclusions in Bacterial Cells" Jae-Jun Song, Sung-chul Yoon, Seungju M. Yu, and Robert W. Lenz, Int. J. Biol. Macromolecules 23, 165 (1998).

"New Polyarylates Prepared from 2,5-Bis(a-phenylisopropyl) hydroquinone, Terephthalic Acid and Isophthalic Acid" Jung-Il Jin and Seungju M. Yu, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 16, 17 (1995).