Armand Soldera

Biographie: 
Armand Soldera is a specialist in soft‑matter chemistry whose research focuses on unraveling the multiscale relationships linking molecular structure to macroscopic properties in polymers, liquid crystals, and organic glasses. His work integrates molecular simulations with experimental characterization to advance the understanding and design of functional soft materials. He co‑edited Advanced Materials (de Gruyter, 2020) and has contributed extensively to the development of multiscale methodologies for complex condensed‑phase systems. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Physical Chemistry from the Université de Strasbourg (France), where he investigated liquid crystal systems. He then pursued postdoctoral research at Université Laval (Canada), specializing in polymer and liquid crystal science, and at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), focusing on polymer scattering. His early career also included work as a research engineer at the French Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique (CEA), where he initiated his long‑standing contributions to molecular simulations of polymers. He joined the Université de Sherbrooke in 2002 and became full professor in 2009. His academic leadership includes serving as Head of the Department of Chemistry, Director of the Quebec Centre for Functional Materials, Vice‑Dean for Development and Partnerships, and currently Dean of the Faculty of Science. In 2024, he was awarded a Doctorat honoris causa by the Université de Montpellier in recognition of his scientific impact and international collaborations.

Titre de la communication:
Auxetic behavior in side-chain liquid crystalline polymers: Guided by molecular simulation