Alexei Sokolov

Alexei Sokolov is the Governor's Chair at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), with joint appointments as Professor of Chemistry and Physics. He leads the Soft Materials and Membranes group, focusing on dynamics of disordered systems, polymer science, and energy materials. His affiliations include the College of Arts & Sciences at UT and the Chemical Sciences Division at ORNL.

Education highlights:

• M.S. in Physics, Novosibirsk State University (1981)
• Ph.D. in Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences (1986)
• Dr. Sci. (Habilitation) in Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences (1993)

Research focuses on:

• Glass transition phenomena and polymer dynamics
• Biological macromolecules and nanocomposites
• Materials for clean energy technologies including polymer electrolytes
• Vitrimers, self-healing materials, and recyclable composites

Recent publications emphasize ion transport mechanisms, solid-state electrolytes, and advanced polymer design for energy storage applications, reflecting cutting-edge work in materials innovation.

Scientific awards and honors:

• Fellow, American Physical Society
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Member, National Academy of Inventors
• Humboldt Fellowship
• Max-Planck Fellowship

Leads research initiatives in soft materials at UT-ORNL, with current projects on polymer dynamics and nanocomposites. The Sokolov Group offers PhD and postdoctoral positions in these areas.