Robert Wickham

Robert Wickham is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Guelph, where he also serves as Deputy Graduate Coordinator. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago (1997) and has held positions including Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Florida, Visiting Scientist at Xerox Research Centre of Canada, and Assistant Professor at St. Francis Xavier University. His research focuses on theoretical soft materials physics, particularly self-assembly in polymeric and biological systems, polymer dynamics modeling, and peptide-cell membrane interactions.

Key research interests include nanostructure formation in block copolymers, non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, and biophysical systems like bacterial peptidoglycan networks. His work combines analytical theory and high-performance computation to address complex many-body systems. Notable funding includes NSERC Discovery Grants (2010, 2016) and recognition such as a 2016 Editors’ Choice article in the Journal of Chemical Physics.

His publications span topics from polymer phase transitions to bacterial pili mechanics, demonstrating expertise in both computational polymer physics and biophysical modeling. Wickham has advised students like Russell Spencer, whose collaborative work was highlighted in the Journal of Chemical Physics. He also serves on the SHARCNET Resource Allocation Committee, leveraging high-performance computing resources for research.