Michela Geri

Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

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

Michela Geri Profile Photo
Michela Geri Profile Photo

Research Themes

Computation & Artificial Intelligence, Energy Systems & Materials, Soft Matter & Nanoscale Materials

Research Interests

Mechanics of multi-phase materials - Soft and hard matter - Coupling of mechanics with thermodynamic, kinematic and chemical conditions - Particulate materials/structured fluids - Novel experimental methods - Theoretical Modeling

Bio

We are an interdisciplinary research group motivated by industrial and fundamental problems related to energy and environmental issues. Many industrial processes that are relevant to the production or transport of energy are governed by the flow and deformation of structured-fluids, where solid and fluid constituents coexist. Extreme environmental events involving soil, mud and snow also feature multi-phase materials of similar nature.

Our goal is to understand multi-phase materials, from particles/droplets suspension to solid solutions, using tailored experimental and theoretical tools. Our work is highly interdisciplinary, spanning the fields of solid&fluid mechanics, rheology and materials science. We focus specifically on developing: (i) novel experimental techniques/setups and signals that push the boundaries of current established techniques; (ii) tailored materials and processes that achieve the required mechanical and physico-chemical properties; and (iii) theoretical continuum models that can describe the observed material behavior while accounting for coupled effects.

Examples of research interests: suspensions of gas hydrates for hydrogen transport and carbon dioxide sequestration, non-equilibrium manufacturing approaches via slurries or suspensions, fluidization of earth materials, new signals and setups for mechanical measurements, theoretical continuum mechanics modeling.

Education

  • B.S. University of Bologna (Italy), 2009
  • M.S. University of Bologna (Italy), 2011
  • Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019

Positions

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

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Journal of Rheology Publication Award. Society of Rheology. 2022
  • Gallery of Rheology. Society of Rheology. 2021
  • Rising Stars in Mechanical Engineering. Stanford University. 2019
  • APS/DFD Milton van Dyke Award - Posters. APS/DFD. 2018
  • Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Crane Award for Outstanding TA. MIT, MechE Department. 2018
  • Chevron-MIT Energy Fellow. MIT Energy Initiative. 2017
  • Gallery of Rheology. Society of Rheology. 2017
  • Chevron-MIT Energy Fellow. MIT Energy Initiative. 2016
  • MIT-France ENS Lyon Exchange. MISTI Program at MIT. 2015
  • Rohsenow Fellowship. MIT, MechE Department. 2012
  • The Best Graduate Women 2011. University of Bologna. 2011

Courses Taught

  • EGR 201L: Mechanics of Solids

Publications