During Ramya’s PhD, she elucidated design rules for virus-resistant coatings by employing glycocalyx-mimetic polymer brushes as model surfaces to study viral bioadhesion. The role of the glycocalyx in viral invasions is not well-understood because some components of this biological barrier function as receptors for viruses while others block viral entry. By identifying the key interfacial features shaping virus-glycocalyx interactions, we can understand why viruses bind to the cell surface and ultimately develop coatings that hinder viral attachment.