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:

Associated Faculty

Gaurav Arya Profile Photo
Gaurav Arya Profile Photo

Gaurav Arya

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

Matthew L Becker Profile Photo
Matthew L Becker Profile Photo

Matthew L Becker

Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Cate Brinson, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Cate Brinson, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Cate Brinson, Ph.D.

Sharon C. and Harold L. Yoh, III Distinguished Professor

Miaofang Chi, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Miaofang Chi, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Miaofang Chi, Ph.D.

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

Ashutosh Chilkoti, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Ashutosh Chilkoti, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Ashutosh Chilkoti, Ph.D.

Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Olivier Delaire Profile Photo
Olivier Delaire Profile Photo

Olivier Delaire

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

Liang Feng, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Liang Feng, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Liang Feng, Ph.D.

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

Ken Gall Profile Photo
Ken Gall Profile Photo

Ken Gall

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

Michela Geri Profile Photo
Michela Geri Profile Photo

Michela Geri

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

Po-Chun Hsu Profile Photo
Po-Chun Hsu Profile Photo

Po-Chun Hsu

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

Bavand Keshavarz Profile Photo
Bavand Keshavarz Profile Photo

Bavand Keshavarz

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

Piotr Marszalek, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Piotr Marszalek, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Piotr Marszalek, Ph.D.

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

David Needham Profile Photo
David Needham Profile Photo

David Needham

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

Xiaoyue Ni Profile Photo
Xiaoyue Ni Profile Photo

Xiaoyue Ni

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

Christine Payne Profile Photo
Christine Payne Profile Photo

Christine Payne

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

Michael Rubinstein, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Michael Rubinstein, Ph.D. Profile Photo

Michael Rubinstein, Ph.D.

Aleksandar S. Vesic Distinguished Professor

Shyni Varghese Profile Photo
Shyni Varghese Profile Photo

Shyni Varghese

Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

Stefan Zauscher, Ph.D. Profile Photo
Stefan Zauscher, Ph.D. Profile Photo

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.