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 The University of Southern Mississippi, recently received the 2026 Science Prize from the Neutron Scattering Society of America, 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.

“One 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,” Gu said. “This is particularly challenging for conjugated polymers, which combine the complexity of polymers with the electronic properties of semiconductors.”

Gu’s 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.

“Neutrons provide an extraordinary way to study these materials,” Gu added.

The research represents years of work involving Southern Miss students, including graduate student Sean Cao, as well as collaborators at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Southern Miss has also played an essential role in developing the research program by bringing together polymer synthesis, physics, characterization, processing and device science.

“Many 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,” Gu said.

For Gu, the award recognizes the collaborative effort behind the research while also providing encouragement to continue the work.

“I 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,” Gu said.

Learn more about the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi.

About the College of Arts and Sciences 
The College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units, and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University’s mission, we educate students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance knowledge across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM. Through innovative research and nationally recognized student success, we provide pathways to understanding the past, solving today's challenges, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.