Jay X Tang

Jay X Tang is a Professor of Physics and Engineering at Brown University, with a career spanning two decades in experimental biophysics. His research focuses on cell mechanics and bacterial motility, applying fluid dynamics to understand biological phenomena like protein filament patterns and bacterial swarm behavior. Tang's work bridges physics, engineering, and microbiology through innovative experimental techniques.

• Bachelor of Science, Peking University (1987)
• PhD in Physics, Brandeis University (1995)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School (1994-1997)

Research interests include bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and viscoelastic material interactions in microbial systems. His lab investigates collective motion patterns and depletion forces in bacterial colonies, while developing low-cost imaging platforms for swarming analysis.

Key scientific awards include CUSPEA Fellowship, Stephen Berko Memorial Prize, and Salomon Research Award. Tang has secured multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and NASA for studies on actin network mechanics and microtubule assembly.

As an educator, Tang teaches Biological Physics and Mechanics courses, emphasizing hands-on learning through undergraduate lab innovations like miniature ball drop viscosity measurements. His collaborative network spans Physics, Engineering, and Applied Mathematics departments at Brown University.