Matthew Helgeson

Matthew Helgeson is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering. His research focuses on complex fluids, colloidal systems, and soft materials, with an emphasis on mesostructure engineering and flow-processing for applications in biotechnology and energy sustainability.

• BS: Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2004)
• PhD: Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware (2009)

Professor Helgeson’s research investigates how mesoscale structure in colloidal and polymeric fluids governs mechanical and transport properties, leveraging experimental and theoretical tools (e.g., scattering, microrheology, rheology, statistical thermodynamics) for multi-scale characterization. His group develops in situ dynamic monitoring methods to study fluid microstructure during processing, enabling design of stimuli-responsive gels, particulates, and polymer networks.

Recent publications highlight his work in polymer microstructure tuning, colloidal gel assembly, and photoresponsive surfactant systems, with applications spanning 3D bioprinting, energy conversion, and sustainable materials. His lab also pioneers high-throughput microrheology and scattering-informed modeling frameworks.

• Scientific Awards: Neutron Scattering Society of America Science Prize (2020); Van Ness Award Lectures at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2018); Unilever Award from ACS (2016); DOE Early Career Award (2015); NSF Early Career Award (2014), among others

Helgeson mentors Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers, including former advisees Tanvi Sheth and Scott Fenton (Ph.D. graduates) and current students Anukta Datta, Tse-Chiang Huang, and new recruits Andrea, Anoushka, and Siobhan. Collaborations with faculty like Megan Valentine advance studies in dynamic polymer networks.