Ousmane Kodio

Ousmane Kodio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he leads the TEST Lab (Theory, Experiment, Simulation To Test ideas). His research spans soft matter, fluid mechanics, and pattern formation, with applications in soft robotics and health.

His educational background includes a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Oxford (Lincoln College, Senior Scholar), an Engineering degree from ESPCI Paris, and a Master's in Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems from Pierre and Marie Curie University.

Prof. Kodio's work focuses on understanding patterns in soft matter through an eclectic approach combining theory, experimentation, and simulation. Key research areas include active soft matter (studying filamentary structures from DNA to cosmic scales), pattern formation in multi-physics systems, machine learning for complex systems, and societal mathematics addressing real-world problems in developing countries. His methodology emphasizes data-driven discovery of physical laws in systems ranging from biological growth to collective behavior.

Analysis of his 2019-2023 publications reveals a dominant focus on elastic instabilities (buckling, wrinkling) in thin structures, with interdisciplinary expansion into public health through CO2 monitoring for airborne disease transmission. The TEST Lab consistently bridges fundamental mechanics with practical applications across engineering and biological contexts.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Regents' Junior Faculty Fellowship (2025)

Prof. Kodio mentors students in the TEST Lab and teaches ME 211 (Pattern Formation and Self-Organization) for interdisciplinary graduate students and ME 16 (Dynamics) for undergraduate mechanical engineers. While specific grants beyond his fellowship aren't detailed, his research integrates societal impact through mathematical modeling for challenges like malaria and locust infestations. Current lab projects explore growth mechanics in living filaments and predictive models for disease transmission, with future work targeting soft robotics advancements.

The TEST Lab maintains strong cross-disciplinary collaborations across engineering, biology, and social sciences, operating at the intersection of applied mathematics and real-world problem solving for both technological innovation and societal benefit.