Wesley Burghardt

Wesley Burghardt serves as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Engineering and Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. Appointed in 1990, he previously chaired the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and oversees curriculum development, professional growth, and personal development initiatives for engineering undergraduates.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois

Burghardt's research pioneers optical and X-ray scattering methodologies to investigate complex fluid dynamics during polymer flow. Key focus areas encompass:

• Microstructure evolution in block copolymer gels under deformation
• Flow-induced crystallization mechanisms in polymers
• Rheological behavior of physically associating networks
• Nanocomposite orientation dynamics under shear
• In-situ structural characterization using synchrotron techniques

Analysis of his 2018-2023 publications reveals dominant emphasis on Rheo-SAXS for capturing transient microstructure in deforming soft materials. His work systematically explores strain-temperature interdependencies in triblock gels, sphere-forming copolymer alignment mechanisms, and molecular origins of extensional strain hardening. Recent studies increasingly bridge polymer physics with biomedical applications through hydrogel research for 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering.

No scientific awards were documented in the source materials.

No student advising records or grant funding details were provided in the available content.

His experimental program operates through a specialized laboratory focused on polymer rheology and advanced scattering techniques, supporting investigations into structure-property relationships in soft matter systems.