I’m a theoretical physicist fascinated by the mechanics of highly deformable and soft complex structures. As a mechanician, I seek to understand fundamental geometric non-linearities in such problems as well as their functionalization for controlled-engineering designs. In this website you will find my work on elasticity and geometry of rods, plates, shells, and soft materials. One of my research goals is to understand how controlled differential growth and Origami mechanics (figure below) can be seen as useful tools for designing three-dimensional objects from information imprinted in two dimensions. I am also interested in questions related to nematic liquid crystal elastomers undergoing prescribed macroscopic shape changes. I have in the past two years or so started to venture into questions concerning Low-Reynolds number hydrodynamics, fluid-structure interactions, biomechanics, and statistical physics of far-from-equilibrium systems.
I’m currently an assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at James Madison University. Before that, I was a Research Fellow at the Aalto Science Institute (AScI), Aalto University in Finland, and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (NORDITA). I’ve been also a Research Associate in the School of Engineering at Brown University. Please see my Curriculum Vitae for more information.
