Mehmet Baykara

Mehmet Baykara is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Merced. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (2012) in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and a B.S. from Boğaziçi University, Turkey (2006) in Mechanical Engineering. His research bridges mechanical engineering, materials science, and applied physics, focusing on experimental nanoscience using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study nanoscale mechanics, tribology, and electronics.

• Education: Ph.D., Yale University (2012); B.S., Boğaziçi University (2006)

Research interests include nanomechanics, nanotribology, scanning probe microscopy, and surface science. His work explores friction, wear, and electrical contact resistance at atomic-scale interfaces, with applications in 2D materials, superlubricity, and solid lubricants.

Scientific awards highlight his doctoral thesis, which received the Henry Prentiss Becton Graduate Award for Exceptional Achievement in Research at Yale University. Under his leadership, the lab investigates structural superlubricity, graphene-driven material synthesis, and defect engineering in 2D systems.