Brian Edwards

Brian Edwards is a Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, where he has been a faculty member since 2001 and was promoted to full professor in 2008. His research focuses on nonequilibrium thermodynamics, exploring polymeric liquid dynamics, molecular simulation, and flow-induced phase transitions.

Education:

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois (1986)
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware (1991)

Research Interests: Edwards' work spans theoretical and computational approaches to nonequilibrium thermodynamics, with applications to polymer crystallization, microphase separation, and rheological behavior under shear and elongational flows. His studies integrate molecular dynamics simulations with mathematical modeling to elucidate mechanisms behind shear banding, coil-stretch transitions, and entanglement in polymeric systems.

Recent Research Trends: His recent articles highlight advancements in machine learning for polymer crystallization analysis, directional entropy characterization, and flow-induced microphase separation in entangled polyethylene. Keywords across these works reflect interdisciplinary applications of molecular dynamics, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and computational rheology.

Publications: Edwards has authored over 125 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters, including the seminal textbook Thermodynamics of Flowing Systems (Oxford University Press, 1994). His work bridges atomistic simulations with macroscopic thermodynamic modeling, particularly in proton transport and tribological properties.