Christian Santangelo

Christian Santangelo is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Massachusetts. His research focuses on Soft Condensed Matter Theory, with specialties in Origami and Self-Folding Materials, Mechanical Metamaterials, and Liquid Crystals. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004.

Research Highlights:

• Develops design rules for self-folding materials and 4D printing
• Explores topological mechanics in origami and kirigami systems
• Investigates geometric principles governing material behavior

Teaching & Outreach:

• Teaches advanced courses like Physics 558 (Solid State Physics) and Physics 605 (Mathematical Methods)
• Engages in public outreach through events like Sci.Tech.Cafe and ScienceQuest

Collaborations: Active in interdisciplinary projects with institutions like Aarhus University and Penn. His lab develops software tools for Discrete Differential Geometry and Origami Mechanisms.