معرفی
Robert J. Wagner is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Binghamton University. He holds a BS from Union College (2013), a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder (2022), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. His research focuses on the mechanics of hierarchically structured soft materials, drawing inspiration from biological systems to develop autonomously adaptive materials. Key interests include functional morphogenesis, self-healing, and mechanoresponsive strengthening in polymers, gels, and biological tissues. He has developed mesoscale computational models to bridge microscale phenomena with macroscale material behavior.
Education:
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Union College (2013)
- PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2022)
Research Interests:
Wagner investigates dynamic and active materials, leveraging insights from living systems to design mechanically adaptive metamaterials. His work combines experimentation, computational mechanics, and constitutive theory to study emergent properties in systems like fire ant rafts and polymer networks. He explores mechanisms such as dynamic bonds, active constituents, and structured architectures to enable adaptive behaviors.
Teaching & Outreach:
Wagner emphasizes STEM education and community engagement through activities like teaching viscoelasticity to elementary students, volunteering at correctional facilities, and organizing workshops on functional fitness and materials science.
Labs & Collaborations:
His research integrates computational modeling with experimental validation, collaborating with groups like the Vernerey Soft Matter Mechanics Lab and the Silberstein Mechanics for Materials Design Lab. Current efforts aim to predictively design materials with self-healing and stress-responsive traits.
