Javier Read de Alaniz

Javier Read de Alaniz is a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Associate Director of the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds a B.S. from Fort Lewis College (1999) and a Ph.D. from Colorado State University (2006), followed by postdoctoral research with Larry Overman at UC Irvine. His research focuses on synthetic chemistry, functional materials, and stimuli-responsive polymers, with interdisciplinary applications in soft robotics, 3D printing, and photopolymerization.

• Affiliations: UCSB Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, CNSI
• Education:
  • B.S., Fort Lewis College (1999)
  • Ph.D., Colorado State University (2006)
  • Postdoc, UC Irvine (2006–2009)

Research interests include cascade rearrangements, photochromic materials, and high-strain-rate sensors. His lab develops light-responsive polymers, functional soft materials, and biomaterials with adaptive properties. Notable contributions include tunable degradable polymers, dynamic covalent networks, and photoactivatable liquid crystal elastomers.

Recent work highlights include scalable synthesis of degradable copolymers, self-healing materials, and photothermal actuators. Collaborations span polymer physics, bioengineering, and materials science.

Lab members include graduate students and postdocs working on projects like dynamic hydrogels, azobenzene-functionalized networks, and bio-inspired materials. Javier has advised over 15 graduate students, many now in academic and industry roles.