Robert Leheny

Robert Leheny is a **Professor and Henry A. Rowland Chair of Physics and Astronomy** at Johns Hopkins University, affiliated with the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. He earned his PhD from the University of Chicago and focuses on experimental condensed matter physics, with emphasis on disordered and soft materials. His research explores how disorder and non-equilibrium conditions influence material properties, particularly in colloidal gels, liquid crystals, and glass-forming systems.

His work integrates advanced techniques like X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) and rheology to study microscopic dynamics and macroscopic behavior. Key themes include structural memory in soft glasses, yielding transitions in amorphous materials, and topological defects in liquid crystals. Recent studies investigate interfacial remodeling by bacteria and nanostructure dynamics in responsive materials.

Leheny has published extensively on rheological memory effects, colloidal gelation, and active nematic systems. His research bridges fundamental physics with engineering applications, such as designing tunable liquid crystal architectures. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his contributions are reflected in high-impact publications and leadership in experimental condensed matter physics.