Soft Matter & Nanoscale Materials
Faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science conduct research focused on computational discovery of new materials, the creation of materials on the nanoscale, and the nanoscale investigation of physical phenomena and properties of polymers, soft-wet, and nanomaterials.

Research Areas
- Bio-inspired materials
- Nanoscale materials
- Nanomechanics
- Nanocomposites
- Nanotribology
- Polymers
- Proteins
- Soft matter
- Soft-wet materials

Centers & Initiatives
We foster strong and growing multidisciplinary connections with faculty across Duke University and beyond that include:
Related Study Opportunities
Associated Faculty

Gaurav Arya
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Matthew L Becker
Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Cate Brinson, Ph.D.
Sharon C. and Harold L. Yoh, III Distinguished Professor

Miaofang Chi, Ph.D.
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Ashutosh Chilkoti, Ph.D.
Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Olivier Delaire
Associate Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Liang Feng, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Ken Gall
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Michela Geri
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Po-Chun Hsu
Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Bavand Keshavarz
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Piotr Marszalek, Ph.D.
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

David Needham
Professor Emeritus in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Xiaoyue Ni
Assistant Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Christine Payne
Donald M. Alstadt Chair of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Yoh Family Professor

Michael Rubinstein, Ph.D.
Aleksandar S. Vesic Distinguished Professor

Shyni Varghese
Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

Stefan Zauscher, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies and Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of MEMS
Other Research Specialties
Explore additional specialty research areas in Duke MEMS and throughout the Pratt School of Engineering.