Samuel Sprunt

Samuel Sprunt is a Professor at the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University. His research focuses on experimental studies of structure and phase transitions in soft condensed matter, including liquid crystals and complex fluids. He employs optical scattering spectroscopy, birefringence/dichroism measurements, and polarizing light microscopy, often using electric/magnetic fields to manipulate systems.

Education:

• Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989

Research Interests: Key areas include commensurate/incommensurate structures in ferroelectric liquid crystal films, two-dimensional ordering under electric fields, polymer-stabilized liquid crystal elasticity, and surfactant membrane dynamics. His work bridges fundamental physics (phase transitions, symmetry breaking) and applied optics/ferroelectricity.

Laboratory Facilities: His lab includes a three-axis optical goniometer, lasers, signal processing equipment, a 13 kG electromagnet, and advanced microscopy systems. Collaborations exist with the Liquid Crystal Institute for X-ray diffraction and sample synthesis. He is involved in planning high-magnetic-field studies at Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

Student Training: Students gain hands-on experience in modern optical technology through individual research projects.