In Memoriam: Gregory Beaucage, PhD

His most influential work was the development of the Unified Scattering Function, a breakthrough that transformed the use of small-angle scattering techniques in analyzing complex polymer systems. It's now widely used globally by researchers to understand the structure of materials ranging from gels and ceramics to biomolecules.

Throughout his career, Beaucage collaborated extensively with industry leaders including Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobil and DuPont.

“He collaborated widely, securing support from federal agencies, international institutions and industrial partners, always seeking to bridge fundamental understanding with real-world applications,” colleague and UC Professor Donglu Shi said.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Beaucage was committed to global outreach. He played a key role in developing science education including solar energy initiatives in Africa. As part of these efforts, he led a course and subsequent study abroad trips to Ethiopia, where UC students installed solar systems.    

Beaucage authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and was cited more than 6,800 times, placing him among the top 1% of physicists globally during a 10-year period. His work spanned topics from polymer crystallinity to RNA folding and protein aggregation.  He was a sought-after speaker, delivering invited talks and tutorials around the world, including at the American Physical Society, Yamagata University in Japan, and Addis Ababa University.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in zoology and chemical engineering and his PhD in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

“We will deeply miss the many stimulating hallway conversations we had with Greg over the years. He always had bold ideas, many of which eventually became initiatives that shaped the materials science and engineering program. We were so fortunate to have a colleague who was not only brilliant but also generous, collegial, and deeply invested in our shared academic mission,” UC Professor Emeritus Dale Schaefer said.

Beaucage is survived by his wife, Jean, and children Peter, Catherine, and Maria.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Oratory at Grailville in Loveland, Ohio. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests actions honoring Beaucage’s commitment to peace and human rights, generally making the world a better place.

Featured image at top: UC is remembering the late Professor Gregory Beaucage. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC