Corey O'Hern

Corey O'Hern is a Professor at Yale University, affiliated with the Departments of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Physics, and Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. He leads the O'Hern Group, which focuses on soft matter and biological physics using theory and computation. His research explores glass/jamming transitions, protein folding/aggregation, and cell/tissue mechanics. He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (1999).

Research interests include statistical mechanics of nonequilibrium systems, protein dynamics, and granular materials. Notable projects involve quasi-one-dimensional models for glassy behavior, smart protein-based nanogels, and nanoscale approaches to neurodegenerative diseases.

Recent work emphasizes granular metamaterials, AI-driven materials design, and computational models of cancer invasion. He collaborates across disciplines, including with the NSF-funded study on granular acoustic metamaterials (2015–2018). His group trains PhD students from multiple Yale departments, fostering interdisciplinary research through programs like the Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology.

Lab facilities include the Yale MRSEC, Yale Institute for Nanoscience, and High Performance Computing Core. Current projects address arch formation in granular flows, deformable particle mechanics, and spongy mesophyll tissue development.