University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Nonlinear machine learning of macromolecular folding and self-assembly

Wang, Jiang

Content Files
WANG-DISSERTATION-2018.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101505

Description

Title
Nonlinear machine learning of macromolecular folding and self-assembly
Author(s)
Wang, Jiang
Issue Date
2018-06-27
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Ferguson, Andrew
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Kuehn, Seppe
Committee Member(s)
  • Tajkhorshid, Emad
  • DeVille, Lee
Department of Study
Physics
Discipline
Physics
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2018-09-27T16:17:32Z
Keyword(s)
molecular simulation, protein folding, self-assembly, manifold learning, machine learning, asphaltene aggregation, ring molecule, dynamical systems theory
Abstract
High performance computation and sophisticated machine learning algorithms have emerged as new tools for studying biological, physical and chemical systems at the atomistic scale. In this thesis, I report several applications of molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning in the study of the macromolecular folding and assembly. In the first aspect, I employ molecular simulation and non-linear manifold learning to explore the dynamics and configuration of linear and ring polymers. Integrating statistical mechanics with dynamical systems theory, I establish a means to determine single molecule folding funnels from univariate time series in experimentally accessible observables. In the second aspect, I utilize coarse grained molecular simulation to explore the self-assembly of hundreds of asphaltene molecules over micro-second time scales to reveal the aggregation phase behavior as a function of temperature, pressure and solvent conditions. I then employ graph matching and non-linear manifold learning to obtain asphaltene folding and assembly free energy landscapes. This thesis establishes new fundamental understanding of the folding and assembly of macromolecules, builds connections between computer simulation and experimental measurements, and provides new routes to the rational design of functional molecular materials.
Graduation Semester
2018-08
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101505
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2018 Jiang Wang

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Physics
Dissertations in Physics