Interfacial Engineering Lab

Our research begins at the intersection of materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology, and aims to understand interfacial phenomena and energy-dissipation mechanisms across materials in relative motion. We focus on friction, adhesion, wear, and deformation of complex surfaces -- from living cells to polymer nanocomposites. These interfacial interactions transpire over multiple length- and time-scales, often in extreme environments and within buried interfaces. Students in our group will acquire proficiency in a wide array of in situ experimental techniques (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy, and interferometry) to access these interfaces and gain mechanistic insights into dynamically evolving material systems. The immediate impacts of these research efforts are in healthcare, energy, sustainability, and engineering design.

IEL Group Photo: (from left to right) Ahmed Al Kindi, Conor Pugsley, Pearl Yoon, Alex Zhang, Luffy Li, Nemea Courelli, Mia Goren, Shawn Yeom, Anthea Li, Claire Nelson, Linnaea Uliassi, Katie Shaffer, Andrew Rhode, & Angela Pitenis. (Not Pictured: Katy Dilley, Nina Johnson, & Julia Ong)