Todd Squires

Todd Squires is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on micro-scale fluid mechanics, transport science, and complex materials, with applications in microfluidics, lung surfactant systems, and energy storage. He holds a PhD in Physics from Harvard University and dual degrees (BS in Physics and BA in Russian Language & Literature) from UCLA.

• Educations:
  • PhD in Physics, Harvard University
  • BS in Physics, University of California, Los Angeles
  • BA in Russian Language and Literature, University of California, Los Angeles

His research interests span interfacial rheology, electrokinetic flows, and microrheology of complex systems. Notable projects include developing microfluidic devices for biomedical applications, studying surfactant monolayers in lung disease treatments, and investigating asphaltene behavior at oil-water interfaces. His work bridges theory, computation, and experimentation to address challenges in materials science and biophysics.

Key achievements include the 2022-23 Outstanding Chemical Engineering Faculty Award, APS Fellowship, and multiple prestigious lectureships. His group's innovations in high-throughput microrheology and soluto-inertial phenomena have advanced material formulation and colloidal control techniques.

• Awards:
  • Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS)
  • Mid-Career Award, American Electrophoresis Society
  • Pierre Gilles de Gennes Prize
  • NSF CAREER Award

Research extends to collaborative efforts with Professors Leal (materials science) and Chmelka (energy storage), focusing on nanostructured materials and interfacial polymerization. His lab explores novel surface rheology principles to engineer 2D suspension dynamics and design smart materials for biomedical and energy applications.