José Alvarado is an Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Natural Sciences. His research focuses on biophysics, soft matter, and active matter, particularly exploring mechanical design principles in biological systems. He investigates topics such as planar cell polarity (PCP), actomyosin networks, and morphogenetic processes. Alvarado’s work integrates experimental and theoretical approaches, often involving collaborations with centers like the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Texas Robotics. His studies address questions about how biological systems achieve mechanical efficiency and how active matter principles apply to biological actuation and control. Key themes in his research include the nonlinear mechanics of actomyosin gels, the role of PCP in tissue shaping during convergent extension, and the design of biomimetic actuators for robotics. He has also contributed to understanding fluid dynamics in microscale systems, such as hairy surfaces and colloidal liquid crystals.
Alireza Ramezani is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, leading the SiliconSynapse Lab. He focuses on bio-inspired robotics, nonlinear systems, and robot locomotion, with a particular emphasis on morphological design and control inspired by biological systems. His work integrates control theory and experimental robotics to develop robots capable of navigating confined spaces, such as caves and ducts, using mechanisms derived from bat movements. Education : PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (2014) MS, Mechanical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2010) BSc, Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (2007) Research Interests : Design of robots with non-traditional morphologies Nonlinear feedback control systems Legged and fluidic-based locomotion Bio-inspired robotics and biology-driven engineering Awards : 2024 ASME Rising Star Award 2024 NSF CAREER Award 2022 NASA Game Changing Program Award Science Magazine Top 5% Research Output (2020) Advising & Labs : Ramezani mentors students in projects like the NASA-funded “Crater Observing Bio-inspired Rolling Articulator” and oversees the SiliconSynapse Lab, which develops robots for space exploration and confined environments. Notable advisees include Henry Noyes, a NASA Space Technology Fellow. Labs/Teams : His lab collaborates with institutions like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) on projects such as the Mars Multi-modal Morphing (M4) Rover and bio-inspired snake robots for lunar crater exploration.
Karen Mulleners is an Associate Professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Engineering (STI), the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IGM), and the UNFOLD Laboratory (Laboratoire de diagnostic des écoulements instationnaires). She also serves in the SGM-ENS teaching department and is a member of the EDEY-GE doctoral program commission. Her research focuses on experimental fluid dynamics, particularly unsteady flow phenomena and vortex dynamics. Professor Mulleners specializes in the intersection of fluid dynamics and bio-inspired engineering, with research interests including: Unsteady vortex-dominated flow phenomena Fluid-structure interaction in flexible systems Experimental methods for flow visualization and measurement Application of fluid dynamics principles to bio-inspired robotics Aerodynamic performance optimization of wind turbine systems Vortex dynamics in flapping and rotating wing systems Her recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong experimental focus on understanding complex fluid phenomena, particularly in bio-inspired robotics and renewable energy applications. Mulleners' work consistently addresses fundamental questions about vortex formation, flow control, and fluid-structure interactions, with significant contributions to understanding dynamic stall in wind turbines and undulatory swimming mechanics. Her research group employs advanced diagnostic techniques to study unsteady flows, often bridging engineering and biological principles. Professor Mulleners actively supervises PhD students and has directed multiple EPFL theses. Her teaching responsibilities include courses on Measurement Techniques and Aerodynamics, where she imparts knowledge on experimental methods for observing and measuring physical variables such as force, resistance, temperature, flow velocity, and structural deformation. The UNFOLD Laboratory, which Professor Mulleners leads, focuses on diagnostic techniques for unsteady flow phenomena, employing advanced experimental methods including flow visualization, particle image velocimetry, and force measurement systems to study complex fluid dynamics problems with applications in renewable energy and bio-inspired engineering.
Christopher Rycroft is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He leads the Rycroft Group, which focuses on mathematical modeling and scientific computation for interdisciplinary applications in science and engineering. Prior to joining UW-Madison in summer 2022, he was a professor at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2014-2022, and before that a Morrey Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley from 2010-2013. Professor Rycroft's research spans three main areas: numerical methods for material mechanics, data-driven discovery, and computational geometry. His group develops new computational methods while working directly with domain scientists. Key achievements include the development of the reference map technique for fluid-structure interaction, Voro++ software library for Voronoi tessellation, and novel approaches to understanding crumpling physics. His work combines traditional analysis and modeling with machine learning methods to extract scientific insights from complex data. The Rycroft Group's publication record demonstrates a strong trajectory of interdisciplinary research bridging mathematics, physics, materials science, and biology. Recent work has focused on fluid-structure interaction, computational geometry applications, mechanical metamaterials, and biological fluid dynamics. The group develops both theoretical frameworks and practical software tools that have found applications across diverse scientific domains from materials science to virology. Everett Mendelsohn Award for Excellence in Mentorship (2021) Professor Rycroft has advised numerous PhD and master's students who have gone on to postdoctoral positions at institutions including MIT, EPFL, and Cornell. His teaching includes advanced scientific computing courses that have quadrupled in enrollment during his tenure. He has secured research funding supporting his group's work on computational methods and interdisciplinary applications. The Rycroft Group consists of graduate students, postdocs, and collaborators with diverse backgrounds in applied mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer science. The group maintains active collaborations with researchers across multiple institutions and participates in centers such as the Harvard Quantitative Biology Initiative.
Monica Olvera de la Cruz is the Lawyer Taylor Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, and Chemical & Biological Engineering at Northwestern University, with a courtesy appointment in Physics and Astronomy. She directs the Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials and serves as Deputy Director of the Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science. Her research focuses on designing responsive materials, including polymers, electrolytes, and complex fluids, with applications in biotechnology and energy. She holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University (1985) and a B.A. from UNAM (Mexico). Her research interests include self-assembly of heterogeneous molecules, ionic-driven assembly mechanisms, and functional materials design. Recent work highlights include modeling electrostatic effects in biomimetic systems and exploring superionic conductors. Awards include National Academy of Sciences membership (2012), APS Polymer Prize (2017), and American Philosophical Society membership (2020). Professional service roles: Gordon Research Conferences Board, DOE Basic Energy Sciences, Max Planck Institute advisory board Led over 150 publications since 2020, emphasizing soft matter physics and materials innovation Her group's innovations bridge theoretical physics and applied materials science, with notable achievements in bio-inspired materials and electrochemical systems.
Associate Professor Fangbao Tian is a distinguished researcher and academic at UNSW Canberra's School of Engineering and Technology, where he also serves as Deputy Head of School for Research since July 2023. Previously, he held positions as Senior Lecturer (2017-2021) and Lecturer (2014-2017) at the same institution after completing postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University. His academic journey began with a BSc (2006) and PhD (2011) in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Engineering Mechanics from the University of Science and Technology of China. Dr. Tian's research focuses on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools for complex flows and fluid-structure interaction, with particular emphasis on bio-inspired applications. His work spans modeling laryngeal aerodynamics and vocal-fold vibration, fluid-structure interaction of plates in viscous fluid, fish swimming and insect flight, blood flow dynamics, and non-Newtonian flow phenomena. Recent work has expanded into Martian atmosphere aerodynamics, showing his research's growing interdisciplinary nature. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent contributions across fluid dynamics, with recent trends showing increasing focus on compressible flows, bio-inspired flight systems, heat transfer applications, and computational methods like Lattice Boltzmann approaches. The research shows strong connections between fundamental fluid mechanics and practical applications in aerospace, biomedical engineering, and environmental systems. UNSW Canberra Goldstar Award 2022 IEEE Outstanding SMCS Chapter Award 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Award 2021 UNSW Canberra Silverstar Award 2018 UNSW Canberra Silverstar Award 2017 Journal of Fluids and Structures Highly Cited Research 2017 ARC DECRA 2016 Dr. Tian actively supervises PhD students across diverse topics including bushfire-enhanced wind loads, bio-inspired flight on Mars, flow control optimization, and fluid-structure interactions in compressible flows. He has secured over $5 million in external funding as Chief Investigator, including significant Australian Research Council projects examining Martian atmosphere aerodynamics, bio-inspired flapping wings, and cardiovascular flow modeling. His editorial roles include Associate Editor for Journal of Fluids and Structures and Scientific Reports, reflecting his standing in the fluid dynamics research community.
Dr Stuart Cameron is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, where he has been contributing to research since 2007. His work is centered on environmental fluid mechanics, with a focus on open-channel flows, turbulence, sediment transport, and bio-inspired hydrodynamics. He is affiliated with a series of high-impact interdisciplinary research projects involving advanced experimental and theoretical fluid dynamics. His research interests include: Open-channel flow turbulence structure Sediment entrainment and transport mechanisms Flow-biota interactions in aquatic ecosystems Development and error analysis of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques Hydrodynamics of bioinspired surfaces and fish-shaped bodies The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in analyzing complex turbulent flows over rough beds, secondary currents, and bio-inspired surface morphologies. His work frequently involves high-resolution experimental techniques and theoretical modeling, often in collaboration with leading researchers such as V. Nikora. Articles span topics from drag forces on sediment particles to hydrokinetic turbine performance and field-based PIV studies in natural water bodies. Notable scientific contributions have been supported by major grants from EPSRC, NERC, and the European Commission. These include projects such as: "Secondary currents in turbulent flows over rough walls" (EPSRC, 2021–2024) "River flow regulation, fish behaviour and status – RIBES" (European Commission, 2020–2023) "Field stereoscopic PIV system for freshwater and marine ecosystems" (NERC, 2019–2020) "Bed friction in rough-bed free-surface flows" (EPSRC, 2014–2017) "HYTECH" (Marie Curie ITN, 2013–2016) "High-resolution numerical and experimental studies of turbulence-induced sediment erosion" (EPSRC & DFG, 2010–2014) Dr Cameron has not advised any named students in the available data, but he collaborates extensively within research teams focused on environmental hydraulics and experimental fluid mechanics. He is involved in the development of advanced measurement systems and theoretical frameworks for understanding complex flows in natural and engineered environments. He is actively engaged in laboratory and field-based research, contributing to both fundamental fluid mechanics and applied environmental engineering challenges. His work bridges engineering, ecology, and physics, particularly in the context of river systems and aquatic habitats.
Ben Larson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), affiliated with the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS). His research bridges biological physics, cell biology, and evolutionary principles to study complex cellular behaviors without nervous systems. BA in Physics, Reed College (2012) Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow, NIH NHLBI (2012-2014) PhD in Biophysics, UC Berkeley (2019) Postdoctoral Scholar, UCSF (2019-2024) Research Focus: The Larson Lab applies interdisciplinary tools from physics and computation to investigate sensorimotor activity in unicellular organisms like Euplotes , exploring how cells achieve sophisticated behaviors through cytoskeletal dynamics and finite-state mechanisms. Key themes include cellular decision-making, evolutionary biophysics, and multicellular morphogenesis. Scientific Awards: 2013 Orloff Science Award 2016-2019 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 2016 Society of General Physiology Scholar 2020-2023 Merck Postdoctoral Fellowship 2022 Porter Prize for Research Excellence (ASCB)
Michael Hagan is a Professor of Physics at Brandeis University, affiliated with the Martin A. Fisher School of Physics. His research focuses on understanding the physical principles governing assembly and dynamic organization in biological and biomimetic systems. He employs computational and theoretical methods, including machine learning, to study viral capsid assembly, bacterial microcompartments, and active matter systems. His work bridges length and time scales to elucidate emergent behaviors in nonequilibrium systems. Education: PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley (2003). His group, the Hagan Lab, collaborates with experimentalists and has received funding from the DOE, NSF, Keck Foundation, and NIH. Key areas include viral genome assembly optimization, bacterial microcompartment formation, and the dynamics of active nematics. Recent studies explore defect-ordered phases, phase separation in active colloids, and programmable self-assembly of geometric structures. Research interests span biophysics, soft condensed matter, and computational modeling. His lab's work has implications for synthetic biology, drug design, and material science. Collaborations with experimental groups (e.g., Z. Dogic's lab) have led to discoveries in active matter dynamics and biomimetic systems.
Pedro Jorge Martins Coelho is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal. His academic career spans several decades with a focus on advanced thermal sciences and computational methods. His research has significantly contributed to the understanding of radiative heat transfer phenomena in complex systems. Dr. Coelho's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, which has provided the foundation for his extensive research in thermal sciences. His work demonstrates a strong theoretical foundation combined with practical applications across various engineering domains. His primary research interests encompass radiative heat transfer, turbulence-radiation interaction, combustion modeling, and numerical methods for thermal systems. Recent work has expanded into biomedical applications of thermal radiation, particularly in laser-tissue interactions for cancer detection and treatment. His publications reveal a consistent focus on developing and refining computational methods for solving complex heat transfer problems, with particular emphasis on the radiative transfer equation in various media and geometries. Analysis of his recent publications shows a clear evolution toward more complex and interdisciplinary applications, including biomedical thermal applications, advanced turbulence modeling, and thermal management of electrical systems. His work consistently bridges fundamental theoretical developments with practical engineering applications, particularly in combustion systems, energy recovery, and thermal management. Dr. Coelho has served on editorial boards for prestigious journals including Heat Transfer Research, Computational Thermal Sciences, and International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment, demonstrating his standing in the thermal sciences community. His research collaborations span numerous institutions and researchers worldwide, as evidenced by his extensive publication record with various co-authors across different countries. He has also been involved in conference organization, serving as Associate Editor for major international heat transfer conferences.
Christian Engwer is a full Professor at the University of Muenster in the Institute for Applied Mathematics, specializing in Analysis and Numerics. He leads the Engwer Group focused on Applications of Partial Differential Equations and is actively involved in the Cells in Motion initiative as a supervisor in the CiM-IMPRS Graduate Programme. His research centers on developing numerical methods for partial differential equations, particularly addressing challenges in complex geometries and multi-physics applications. He specializes in Unfitted Discontinuous Galerkin methods, which allow simulations on complex geometries without requiring domain-fitted meshes. His work spans porous media modeling, biological systems, and bioelectromagnetism applications, with significant contributions to EEG/MEG forward modeling in neuroscience. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on model order reduction techniques, stabilized numerical schemes for cut-cell meshes, and applications in bioelectromagnetism. His work demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward developing robust, efficient numerical methods applicable to real-world problems in medical imaging and biological modeling, with increasing emphasis on high-performance computing implementations. Professor Engwer actively supervises doctoral students, with recent completions including Lukas Renelt (2025), Michael Wenske (2021), and Maria Carla Piastra (2019), among others working on topics related to numerical methods and biomedical applications. He leads several major research projects including BrainStorm: Highly Extensible Software for Advanced Electrophysiology and MEG/EEG Imaging (NIH-funded since 2019), multiple EXC 2044 Cluster of Excellence projects through 2025, and the InterKI interdisciplinary teaching program on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His group develops several important software packages including DUNE (Distributed and Unified Numerics Environment), duneuro (for bioelectromagnetism applications), and TPMC (Topology Preserving Marching Cubes). These tools support research in numerical methods and their applications to complex scientific problems.
Professor M. Grae Worster is a renowned academic in fluid dynamics and geophysics, affiliated with the University of Cambridge's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) within the Faculty of Mathematics. He holds the title of Professor and specializes in fluid mechanics, solidification processes, and geophysical flows. His research focuses on buoyancy-driven flows, magma dynamics, sea ice evolution, and phase-change phenomena in porous media. Worster earned his Ph.D. in 1983 from Cambridge University with a thesis on "Convective Flow Problems in Geological Fluid Mechanics." His work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches, addressing complex fluid dynamics in natural systems like magma chambers, lava lakes, and sea ice formation. Key areas of expertise include mushy-layer convection, premelting dynamics, and viscous gravity currents. His research interests span fluid mechanics, solidification physics, and environmental fluid dynamics, with a strong emphasis on geophysical applications. Recent studies explore hydrogel mechanics, grounding-line dynamics in ice sheets, and thermal regelation in colloidal systems. He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited influential works like Perspectives in Fluid Dynamics and Understanding Fluid Flow . Worster's contributions to fluid dynamics include groundbreaking studies on sea ice dynamics, where he developed models for brine drainage and ice growth mechanisms. His work on solidification processes in alloys and colloidal suspensions has advanced materials science and geophysics. Collaborations with experimentalists ensure his theoretical models are grounded in empirical validation.
James E. Smay is a Professor and Head of the Materials Science and Engineering department at Oklahoma State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University Dr. Smay’s research focuses on colloidal assembly processes, particularly direct write manufacturing, to create novel devices. His work spans 3D printing of photonic band gap crystals , bone scaffolds , all-ceramic dental crowns , and metal-ceramic composites , leveraging colloidal gel inks with ceramic, metallic, and polymer particles in aqueous media. His publications highlight advancements in additive manufacturing , bioactive ceramics , rheological control of complex fluids , and sanitation engineering . Key trends include the application of direct printing to biomedical and photonic fields, alongside studies on emulsion stability and pathogen deactivation. The Smay lab is equipped for powder processing , advanced rheology , thermal treatment of ceramics/metals/polymers, and particle size/zeta potential measurements , supporting interdisciplinary research in sustainable manufacturing and biomedical materials.
Thomas G. J. Chandler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with his office located in Phillips Hall 396. Prior to joining UNC Chapel Hill, he was a Van Vleck Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chandler completed his MMath and DPhil in the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. His doctoral research, supervised by Prof. Dominic Vella, explored the mechanics of thin elastic materials and their interaction with soft matter. His postdoctoral research at Wisconsin, supervised by Prof. Saverio Spagnolie, focused on the interaction of anisotropic fluids with soft matter. Dr. Chandler's research focuses on solving physically motivated problems using applied mathematics techniques, particularly asymptotic, numerical, and complex analysis. His primary research areas include fluid dynamics (especially nematic liquid crystals and active matter), solid mechanics (particularly thin elastic materials), and mathematical biology. He investigates how active stresses in anisotropic fluids interact with deformable bodies, how geometry affects the rigidity of thin elastic sheets, and how turgor pressure influences cellular structures in biological systems. His research combines analytical methods, particularly complex variable techniques, with numerical simulations to address problems at the intersection of mathematics, physics, and biology. Dr. Chandler's work has revealed fundamental insights into phenomena such as curvature-induced rigidity in thin elastic materials, the mechanics of pressurized cellular sheets, and the interaction of deformable bodies with active nematic fluids. Dr. Chandler has published extensively in high-impact journals including Physical Review Research, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, and Proceedings of the Royal Society A. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental mathematical theory to applications in materials science and biological systems. As an educator, Dr. Chandler teaches a variety of mathematics courses at UNC Chapel Hill. In Fall 2025, he will be teaching Math 383: First Course in Differential Equations. His previous teaching includes courses in Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Applied Dynamical Systems, and The Theory of Single Variable Calculus. At the University of Oxford, he served as a Class Tutor and Teaching Assistant for graduate-level courses in Fluid Mechanics, Elasticity, and Solid Mechanics.
Adilson Motter is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Physics and Astronomy and (by courtesy) Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University. He serves as Director of the Center for Network Dynamics (CND) and has been a faculty member since March 2006. His academic appointments include affiliations with the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP), Molecular Biophysics Program, NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB), Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Graduate Program in Applied Physics, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE), and Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO). Professor Motter received his Ph.D. in 2002 from UNICAMP (University of Campinas), Brazil, where he worked with Professor Patricio S. Letelier. Prior to joining Northwestern, he held positions as Guest Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Germany and as Director's Funded Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Nonlinear Studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Professor Motter's research focuses on the dynamical behavior and control of complex systems and networks. His work spans theoretical and computational approaches to understanding phenomena in physical, biological, and engineered systems. Key research areas include: Cascading dynamics and network resilience Spontaneous synchronization and symmetry phenomena Network control theory and applications Quantum networks and information transfer Machine learning applications to network science Data-driven discovery in complex systems Applications to quantitative biology, biomedical research, renewable energy, smart power grids, microfluidics, and metamaterials Analysis of Professor Motter's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning physics, engineering, biology, and computer science. His work demonstrates consistent innovation in network science, with recent contributions advancing quantum networking architectures, understanding power grid limitations for electric vehicle integration, developing machine learning approaches for genetic analysis, and exploring fundamental synchronization phenomena. A notable trend is the increasing application of his theoretical frameworks to real-world challenges in energy systems, biomedical research, and quantum information technology. Professor Motter has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2009) Weinberg Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research (2009) Northwestern-Argonne Early Career Investigator Award for Energy Research (2010) NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2011) Erdös-Rényi Prize in Network Science (2013) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2013) Simons Foundation Fellowship in Theoretical Physics (2015) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2015) Scialog Fellow (2015) Outstanding Referee, American Physical Society (2016) Fellow of the Network Science Society (2020) Senior Scientific Award, Complex Systems Society (2022) Professor Motter has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, as evidenced by the Weinberg Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research. His research group has received significant funding through multiple NSF grants, including his CAREER award, and collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory. Current research directions include mechanical metamaterial networks, quantum network science, and other areas of complex systems. The group has been actively recruiting postdoctoral researchers and has seen students recognized with awards and research grants. As Director of the Center for Network Dynamics (established September 2023), Professor Motter leads a multidisciplinary team exploring network phenomena across various domains. The Center has hosted significant events including the 'Brain Architecture and Computing 2024' workshop and is organizing the 2025 CDC Workshop on Neurocomputation and Dynamics in Rio de Janeiro. The Motter Group maintains active collaborations with experimentalists and researchers from diverse disciplines, facilitating the translation of theoretical insights into practical applications.
