Mikko Haataja

Professor Mikko Haataja is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. Holding a Ph.D. from McGill University (2003), he leads the Haataja Research Group focused on theoretical and computational approaches to materials science and physical biology. His office is located in D404C Engineering Quadrangle, and he serves as an advisor to numerous graduate students working at the intersection of physics, materials science, and biology.

Professor Haataja's research spans multiple domains including theoretical and computational materials science, physics of materials, and physical biology. His work examines microstructure formation during solid-solid phase transformations and solidification, growth of electrodeposited thin films and quantum heterostructures, dynamics of driven interfaces with mobile impurities, recrystallization kinetics, cell signaling mechanisms, and the regulation & self-organization of 'lipid rafts' in plasma membranes. His group has pioneered concepts in 'dynamically programmable electromechanical 2D materials' and investigates phase separation phenomena in biological systems.

His publication record demonstrates significant contributions across several key areas: intracellular phase transitions and biomolecular condensates, 2D transition metal dichalcogenide materials, lipid bilayer membrane physics, solid oxide fuel cells and batteries, and organic semiconductor thin films. His most recent work focuses on amyloid-like fibril formation, liquid-liquid phase separation in biological contexts, and defect engineering in 2D materials, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that bridges physics, materials science, and biology.

Professor Haataja actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with numerous co-authored publications indicating strong advising relationships. His research program encompasses multiple funded projects investigating materials for energy conversion and storage, intracellular organization mechanisms, and novel 2D material systems. The Haataja Group maintains strong collaborations with other Princeton researchers and external institutions, particularly in the fields of biophysics and advanced materials.

The Haataja Group operates as a dynamic research laboratory employing computational modeling and theoretical approaches to address fundamental questions in materials science and biophysics. Their work spans from atomic-scale simulations to continuum modeling, with particular emphasis on phase-field crystal models, membrane biophysics, and 2D material systems. The group maintains specialized computational infrastructure for multiscale modeling and collaborates extensively with experimental groups to validate theoretical predictions.