Franck Vernerey

Franck Vernerey is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, affiliated with the Materials Science and IQ Biology programs. He serves as Director of the Advanced Mechanics and Failure Analysis Graduate Certificate. His research focuses on soft matter mechanics, computational modeling, and biological systems. Key interests include mechanics of dynamic networks, bio-polymer behavior, cell collective motion, and swarm intelligence. His group bridges statistical mechanics, continuum theory, and computational simulations to study emergent phenomena in biological and engineered materials.

Education: Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University (2006).

Research Highlights

• Soft matter mechanics of polymers, gels, and biological tissues.
• Active matter systems: fire ant rafts, cell networks, and smart hydrogels.
• Multiscale modeling linking molecular dynamics to macroscopic behavior.

Labs/Teams

Director of the Vernerey Soft Matter Mechanics Group, investigating adaptive materials and biological networks. Collaborates with applied mathematicians, biologists, and materials scientists.