Thomas O'Connor

Thomas O'Connor serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. His research group employs molecular and continuum modeling to design sustainable polymer materials and improve soft material manufacturing processes, building on his prior work as a Harry S. Truman Fellow at Sandia National Laboratories where he developed the open-source RHEO platform.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Physics from Johns Hopkins University
• M.S. in Physics from Johns Hopkins University
• B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

O'Connor's research integrates computational materials science with polymer physics to study nanoscale structure and dynamics in soft matter. His lab uses molecular dynamics, lattice-Boltzmann methods, and mesh-free hydrodynamics across multiple scales to bridge molecular mechanisms with macroscopic material behavior. Key focus areas include sustainable polymer design, biomimetic manufacturing inspired by natural systems (e.g., insect silk production), and advancing computational tools for materials innovation in additive manufacturing and biomanufacturing.

His publication on super stretchable ring polymer elastomers demonstrates how molecular architecture enables novel mechanical properties, reflecting broader research trends in sustainable soft materials where computational modeling guides the design of recyclable polymers and efficient manufacturing processes.

His scientific awards include:

• Harry S. Truman Fellowship
• DOE Early Career Program Award
• IOP Early Career Lectureship Prize

Professor O'Connor currently advises three PhD students—Songyue Liu, Eric Palermo, and Cindy Chongvimansin—who present research at major conferences including the APS March Meeting and Society of Rheology. His work is funded by the DOE Early Career Award and a Manufacturing Futures Institute seed grant for 3D printing fiber-reinforced composites with Prof. Adam Feinberg.

The O'Connor Lab collaborates within CMU's Manufacturing Futures Institute to develop open-source modeling tools like LAMMPS for sustainable materials engineering, focusing on molecular mechanisms that enable next-generation polymer manufacturing and recycling solutions.