The CML was founded in January 1989 after several years of close collaborative research between the department’s faculty members and the computer industry. It consists of several major laboratories in such fields as Servo Control, Tribology, Dynamics and Instrumentation. CML is one of the leading research laboratories in ME dealing with the mechanics of sensitive …
Research Interest
Computational Solid Mechanical Laboratory
CSML was founded in 1992 and curates research in the area of computational solid mechanics. It employs several graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and other research visitors. CSML is co-located with the research groups of Professors Fai Ma and Stephen Morris.
Dynamics Lab
Our research focuses on the dynamics of mechanical systems and frequently draws upon rigid body dynamics, continuum mechanics, robotics, and biology. Current interests include discrete elastic rods, the dynamics of flexible risers, models for soft robot locomotion, and fluid-structure interaction. We use a combined analytical, computational, and experimental approach with the goal of elucidating the …
Gu Research Group
The Gu Research Group works at the intersection of mechanics, additive manufacturing, materials, and computer science. We aim to make additive manufacturing more accessible, economical, and ubiquitous. Using a bioinspired algorithmic-driven design approach, we harness tools such as advanced computational analysis, machine learning, and topology optimization to expand and revolutionize the field of smart additive manufacturing …
Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory
Mofrad Lab combines the state-of-the-art molecular and multiscale biomechanics, computational biology and bioinformatics, and statistical machine learning approaches toward understanding and diagnosis of human diseases.
Computational Manufacturing and Materials Research Laboratory
Research themes: (1) Modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing and 3D printing systems; (2) Modeling and simulation of multiphase/composite material behavior; (3) Modeling and simulation of fire propagation and control with the Fire Research Group; (4) Modeling and simulation of UAVs and swarms; (5) Modeling and simulation of biological systems; (6) Modeling and simulation of ballistic …
Tarek I. Zohdi
Will C. Hall Family Chair in Engineering
Will C. Hall Endowed Chair
Chair of the UCB Computational & Data Science & Engineering Program
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
zohdi@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-9172
For more information see:
Click here for Professor Zohdi’s CV
Tarek I. Zohdi http://www.me.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/tarek-i-zohdi/ received his Ph.D. in 1997 in Computational and Applied Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany from 1997 to 1998 and then a lecturer (C2-Oberingenieur) at the Gottfried Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany from 1998 to 2001, where he received his Habilitation in General Mechanics (Allgemeine Mechanik). Approximately one out of every twenty doctoral degree holders in Germany is allowed to proceed with a Habilitation. It is the highest academic degree in Germany and is usually required to obtain the rank of full Professor there and in other parts of Europe. In July 2001, he became an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He was promoted to Associate Professor in July 2004 and to Full Professor in July 2009. He has held a number of administrative posts at UC Berkeley, including:
- 7/2020-present Associate Dean for Post Baccalaureate Programs, College of Eng., UC Berkeley.
https://engineering.berkeley.edu/about/leadership-team/,
- 7/2019-present: Director of the UCB-DEWA Program: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/2019/05/dubai-electricity-and-water-authority-partnership-advances-future-energy-educational-program,
- 7/2018-6/2020: Chief Technology Officer of the Fung Institute, UC Berkeley
https://funginstitute.berkeley.edu/about-us/our-people/staff/,
- 7/2018-6/2020: Elected Chair of the Faculty, College of Engineering, UC Berkeley,
- 7/2012-present: Chair, Computational and Data Science and Eng. Program, UC Berkeley,
- 7/2009-6/2012: Vice-Chair for Instruction, Dept. of Mech. Eng., UC Berkeley,
- 7/2008-6/2012: Chair, Engineering Science Program, UC Berkeley,
- 7/2008-11/2008: Acting Assoc. Dean, Interim Eng. Sci. Prog. Exec. Comm., UC Berkeley.
and recently (2021) he has started serving as Academic Director of the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET), at UC Berkeley ( https://scet.berkeley.edu/scet-names-tarek-zohdi-as-new-academic-director/). From 2014-2020, he was a Chancellor’s Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Since 2016, he is the holder of the W. C. Hall Family Endowed Chair in Engineering. He also holds a Staff Scientist position at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and an Adjunct Scientist position at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute. His main research interests are in modeling, simulation and optimization of nonconvex multiscale-multiphysics problems for industrial applications. He has published over 180 archival refereed journal papers and eight books: (1) Introduction to computational micromechanics (T. Zohdi and P. Wriggers, Springer-Verlag), (2) An introduction to modeling and simulation of particulate flows (T. Zohdi, SIAM), (3) Electromagnetic properties of multiphase dielectrics: a primer on modeling, theory and computation (T. Zohdi, Springer- Verlag), (4) Dynamics of charged particulate systems: modeling, theory and computation (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag) (5 and 6) A finite element primer for beginners-the basics (T. Zohdi, Springer- Verlag, 2 distinct editions), (7) Modeling and simulation of functionalized materials for additive manufacturing and 3D printing: continuous and discrete media (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag) and (8) Modeling and simulation of infectious diseases: microscale transmission, decontamination and macroscale propagation (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag), as well as eight handbook/book chapters and five encyclopedia chapters. In 2000, he received the Zienkiewicz Prize and Medal, which are awarded once every two years, to one post-graduate researcher under the age of 35, by The Royal Institution of Civil Engineers in London, to commemorate the work of Professor O. C. Zienkiewicz, for research which contributes most to the field of numerical methods in engineering. In 2002, he received the Best Paper of the Year 2001 Award in London, at the Lord’s Cricket Grounds, for a paper published in Engineering Computations, pertaining to modeling and simulation of the propagation of failure in particulate aggregates of material. In 2003, he received the Junior Achievement Award of the American Academy of Mechanics. The award is given once a year, to one post-graduate researcher, to recognize outstanding research during the first decade of a professional career. In 2008, he was elected Fellow of the International Association for Computational Mechanics (IACM) and in 2009 he was elected Fellow of the United Stated Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM). The USACM is the primary computational mechanics organization in the United States and the International Association for Computational Mechanics is the primary international organization in this field. In 2011, he was selected as “Alumnus of the Year” by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he did his undergraduate studies. In 2017, he was awarded the University of California, Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award. The Distinguished Teaching Award is a campus-wide recognition for faculty that have established a sustained and varied record of teaching excellence. This is the highest award for teaching in the University: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/node/240 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntzkn71r2Sg. In 2019, he was selected to give a Lindbergh Lecture, by the University of Wisconsin in honor aviation pioneer (and engineer) Charles Lindbergh (a 1924 graduate of UW). In 2019 he was elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM)-only one new Fellow is inducted in the nation and the Americas into the AAM each year: https://medium.com/the-coleman-fung-institute/tarek-zohdi-named-2019-aam-fellow-d4df374246e1. In 2020, he received the prestigious Humboldt-Forschungspreis (Humboldt Research Prize). The prize, given by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of the German Government, recognizes renowned researchers outside of Germany whose “fundamental discoveries, new theories or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.” He received it in the area of Mechanics in recognition of lifetime achievements https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-award.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Prize and https://www.uni-due.de/2020-07-21-humboldt-forschungspreistraeger-tarek-i-zohdi-kommt). He is an editor of two leading journals in his field, namely an editor of Computational Mechanics and managing editor of Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and serves on 11 editorial boards of international journals. He is also the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of the relatively new journal, Computational Particle Mechanics (CPM), as well as an editor of the Computational Mechanics book series (Wiley). He has organized or co-organized over 30 international conferences and workshops and been appointed/invited to the Scientific Advisory Boards of over 40 international conferences. He was elected President of the USACM in 2012, and served from 2012 to 2014. Since 2009, he has served as a representative of the USACM on the General Council of the IACM, which is the governing committee of the primary international organization in his field of research and was elected to the Executive Council of IACM in 2020 (seven were elected worldwide in 2020). In 2014, he was appointed by the United States National Academy of Science (NAS) and the National Research Council (NRC) as a member of the US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM) representing the USACM (4/15/2014-10/31/2018): https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/us-national-committee-for-theoretical-and-applied-mechanics-usnc-iutam. USNC/TAM is the primary national governing body for Mechanics in the United States. This committee operates under the auspices of the US Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) and the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the NRC. Furthermore, he is the national coordinator for the NAS and USNC/TAM for AmeriMech Symposia, which are intended to promote interactions among researchers in an area of contemporary interest in the mechanics of fluids and solids http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/iutam/pga_086043. These symposia are designed to encourage participation of young researchers, and to promote interdisciplinary ideas and discussions. This format allows for in-depth discussions and close interactions between participants. Such symposia are renown to help assess the state-of-the-art and chart new directions for the future. In 2018, he was elected to Member-at-Large status of the USNC/TAM by the National Academy of Sciences: http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/me-professor-tarek-zohdi-appointed-member-large-us-national-academy-sciences-and-national. Overall, he has been a plenary speaker at each of the three major conferences in his field: (a) The World Congress for Computational Mechanics (Sao Paulo , 2012), (b) The United States National Congress for Computational Mechanics (Montreal, 2017) and (c) The International Conference on Particle-based Methods (Stuttgart 2013, Hannover, 2017, Hamburg 2021) and given more than 200 other plenary, keynote and contributed lectures at conferences, universities and other research institutions worldwide. In addition to his academic credentials, he has been active in five main industrial areas:
- Modeling and simulation of high-strength fabric: He has worked extensively in the computational analysis of high-strength ballistic fabric shielding. Initially, this work was funded by the FAA and Boeing as part of a 10 year (2001-2011) multi-million dollar laboratory and simulation effort to develop ballistic fabric shields for the Boeing 787. He was heavily involved in the development of 787 Boeing designs. The work was then applied to the development of new ballistic fabric shielding armor (from 2007-present) with the Army Research Labs (ARL) and the Army High Performance Computing Research Center (AHPCRC). In summary, the combined laboratory, modeling and simulation efforts have been instrumental for the development of new types of ballistic fabric shields for the safety and betterment of society.
- Modeling and simulation of highly heterogeneous materials: He worked extensively in the computational analysis of particulate functionalized materials in multiphysical regimes. This work has been continuously funded by a number of industries, most notably for power-generation materials in harsh environments such as thermal barrier turbine blade coating materials (CMCs: Ceramic Matrix Composites) and high-voltage electromagnetic generator (dielectric) materials, such as End Corona Protection systems. This work has been a direct industrial outgrowth of the unique book: Introduction to computational micromechanics (T. Zohdi and P. Wriggers, Springer-Verlag: https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/zohdi-publications/).
- Modeling and simulation of fire-technologies: In 2018, he founded the UC Berkeley Fire Research Group(FRG): https://frg.berkeley.edu/, whose mission is to serve the best interests of the State of California and society at large, by working toward the development and implementation of more effective solutions for uncontrolled wildfires. The FRG’s mission is to develop, harness and integrate the state-of-the-art technologies across many fields in order to produce robust and affordable firefighting systems that are easy to maintain, upgrade and deploy for early detection and control of fires. The FRG has brought together engineers, scientists, technologists, first responders and firefighters to bolster research in fire science, management and emergency control.
- Modeling and simulation of food systems: In 2019, he founded the UC Berkeley Center for Next Generation Food Systems: https://food-manufacturing.berkeley.edu/. The overall mission of the center is to optimize societal food production, quality, and food safety/security in the era of pandemics and beyond. These themes are central to California since its economy is the 5th largest economy in the world. The center encourages cross-collaboration and sharing of information, where possible, and through various forums to further enhance expanding opportunities. Furthermore, the center supports the research, education, extension, and economics endeavors designed to advance public knowledge and commercial interests. The center explores themes associated with (a) pandemic driven food system security and safety, (b) improving food yield, quality, and nutrition, (c) decreasing energy and water resource consumption, (d) increasing production yield and eliminating food waste, (e) large surface-area agriculture, using energy-efficient technologies such as solar and wind and the (f) use of autonomous systems, drones, sensors and machine-learning for detection of inefficiencies and hazards. The center is part of a 20,000,000 dollar multi-campus NSF-USDA-NIFA funded network. Zohdi is the PI of the UC Berkeley hub/node.
- Modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing processes: He has been heavily involved in the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) system that has been developed over the last decade by the US Government. The goal is to add capacity to the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation, a 2014 initiative to increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by streamlining research and development and increasing collaboration among industry, academia, national labs and federal partners. Form 2016-2021, he was the Northern California PI for the Northern California Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII); see Whitehouse announcement: http://engineering.berkeley.edu/2016/06/california-new-headquarters-smart-manufacturing-institute and http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/president-obama-announces-winner-new-smart-manufacturing-innovation-institute-competition which is part of a 140,000,000 dollar consortium of universities, national labs and companies geared towards smart clean manufacturing (headquartered at UCLA). The mission of the consortium, consisting of 200 partners from 30 states representing a wide spectrum of interests across industry and academia, is to help hone advanced manufacturing’s competitive edge in the United States by increasing efficiency and accelerating the adoption of technologies such as advanced sensors, data analytics and digital controls in manufacturing. Also, from 2016-2021, he was the California Principal Investigator for another successful consortium NNMI grant (the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM), headquartered at Carnegie Mellon) in which he was appointed the coordinator of the Northern California Branch; see announcement http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/dod-announces-award-new-advanced-robotics-manufacturing-arm-innovation-hub and http://engineering.berkeley.edu/2017/01/berkeley-regional-center-new-robotics-manufacturing-consortium which is part of a 253,000,000 dollar consortium of universities, national labs and companies focused on advanced robotic manufacturing.
Remark: For overall record, see the CV provided for lists of papers and similar data.
Public Service:
Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on spontaneously shattering car sunroofs. Located here:
http://abc7.com/archive/8026317/
Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on exploding shower doors made of tempered safety glass. Located here:
http://abc30.com/archive/9313662/
Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on a faulty baby zipper device from a sleeping bag. Located here:
http://abc7news.com/archive/8433331/
Research Description:
Research themes:
(1) Modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing and 3D printing systems
(2) Modeling and simulation of multiphase/composite material behavior
(3) Modeling and simulation of fire propagation and control with the Fire Research Group
(4) Modeling and simulation of UAVs and swarms
(5) Modeling and simulation of biological systems
(6) Modeling and simulation of ballistic fabric shielding
Methods of analysis:
(1) Discrete Element Methods
(2) Finite Element Methods
(3) Finite Difference Methods
(4) Computational Optics
(5) Machine-Learning Algorithms
(6) Agent-Based Methods
A set of “summary” slides on the above topics can be found here https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/
Related papers and books on the above topics can be found here: https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/zohdi-publications/
Related Links:
Fire Research Group: https://frg.berkeley.edu/ and http://www.dailycal.org/tag/fire-research-group/
Editor, Computational Mechanics: http://www.springer.com/materials/mechanics/journal/466
Editor-in-Chief, Comp. Particle Mechanics: http://www.springer.com/engineering/mechanics/journal/40571
NAS-USNC/TAM AmeriMech Coordinator: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/iutam/pga_086043
Chief Technology Officer, Fung Institute: https://funginstitute.berkeley.edu/about-us/our-people/staff/
Chair, UC Berkeley Computational Data Science and Eng. Prog: http://citris-uc.org/decse-organization/
Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab: http://www.lbl.gov/
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Zohdi’s publications, please visit the Computational Manufacturing and Materials Research Lab website.
David Steigmann
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
6133 Etcheverry HallUniversity of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
dsteigmann@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-3165
For more information see: Current Classes Taught
To view Professor Steigmann’s CV, please click here.
Research Description:
Continuum, mechanics, shell theory, finite elasticity, variational methods, stability, surface stress, capillary phenomena, mechanics of thin films.
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Steigmann’s publications, please click here.
Panayiotis Papadopoulos
Byron and Elvira Nishkian Chair in Structural Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Byron and Elvira Nishkian Chair in Structural Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
panos@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-3358
For more information see: Computational Solid Mechanics Lab
Current Classes Taught
RELATED EXPERIENCE
7/1/04 – present : Professor, University of California, Berkeley
7/1/98 – 6/30/04 : Associate Professor, University of California, Berkeley
7/1/92 – 6/30/98 : Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley
1/1/92 – 6/30/92 : Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of California, Berkeley
8/1/91 – 12/31/91 : University Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
1/1/88 – 8/31/91 : Graduate Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley
8/1/87 – 5/31/90 : Graduate Student Instructor, University of California, Berkeley
UNIVERSITY DEGREES
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, December 1991
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, May 1987
Dipl. Civil Engineering, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece, July 1986
Research Description:
Computational mechanics, solid mechanics, biomechanics, applied mathematics
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Professor Papadopoulos’ publications, please visit the Computational Solid Mechanics Lab website.
Oliver M. O’Reilly
Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
oreilly@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-0877
For more information see: Dynamics Lab
Current Classes Taught
Oliver M. O’Reilly is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at the University of California at Berkeley.
He received his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). Subsequently, he received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University. At Cornell, he studied under Phil Holmes and Frank Moon. After spending two years as a postdoc at the Institut für Mechanik at ETH-Zürich under Jürg Dual, he joined the faculty in Mechanical Engineering at Cal in 1992. He has previously served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate and as an Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society.
His interests span the fields of continuum mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. He has a broad range of specializations including directed (or Cosserat) theories of deformable bodies, constrained rigid body dynamics, contact mechanics, linear and nonlinear vibrations and linear and nonlinear dynamics of deformable bodies. He has applied these interests to a range of applications including soft robots, MEMS resonators, brake squeal, the dynamics of toys, motorcycle navigation, axially moving media, artificial and natural satellites, spinal kinematics and vehicle collision dynamics.
O’Reilly has coauthored over 100 archival journal articles, written three textbooks, coauthored a monograph, and is a co-inventor on two patents. He has also received multiple teaching awards including U.C. Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999, the Pi-Tau-Sigma Professor of the Year Award in 2003 and the Tau-Beta-Pi Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award in 2013. He is also a recent recipient of the Berkeley Faculty Service Award.
To view Professor O’Reilly’s CV, please click here.
Research Description:
Dynamics, Vibrations, Continuum Mechanics
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor O’Reilly’s publications, please visit the Dynamics Lab website.
Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering
208A Stanley Hall #1762University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
mofrad@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-8165
For more information see: Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory
Current Classes Taught
Education
1991 B.A.Sc., Sharif University of Technology
1994 M.A.Sc., University of Waterloo
1999 Ph.D., University of Toronto
Professional Experience
1999 – 2000 Post-Doc, Computer Science Department, University of Toronto
2000 – 2002 Post-Doc, MIT and Harvard Medical School/Mass. General Hospital
2002 – 2004 Principal Research Scientist, Biological and Mechanical Engineering, MIT
2005 – 2010 Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley
2010 – 2013 Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley
2011 Visiting Professor, Department of Bioengineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
2012 – 2013 Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
2012 – Present Faculty Scientist, Molecular Biophysics, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
2012 – 2014 Faculty Director, UC Berkeley Master of Bioengineering (M.Eng) Program
2013 – Present Professor, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
2014 – 2015 Faculty Co-Director, Berkeley-UCSF Master of Translational Medicine (MTM) Program
Research Description:
Multiscale Biomechanics of Cardiovascular Disease and Brain Injury; Molecular and Cellular Mechanobiology; Mechanics of Integrin-Mediated Focal Adhesions; Mechanics of the Nuclear Pore and Nucleocytoplasmic Transport
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Mofrad’s publications, please visit the Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory website and PubMed.
Fai Ma
Professor of Applied Mechanics
6127 Etcheverry HallUniversity of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
fma@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-6527
For more information see: Current Classes Taught
To view Professor Ma’s CV, please click here.
Research Description:
Dynamical Systems with Inherent Uncertainties, Vibration, Damping and Hysteresis
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Ma’s publications, please click here.
George Leitmann
Professor of the Graduate School
Professor Emeritus of Engineering Science
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1700
gleit@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-3984
For more information see:
To view Professor Leitmann’s CV, please click here.
Research Description:
Economics, planning, dynamics systems, control theory, optimal control, dynamic games, & robust control, applications engineering, mechanical systems, business administrations, biological systems
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Leitmann’s publications, please click here.
Kyriakos Komvopoulos
Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
5143 Etcheverry HallUniversity of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
kyriakos@me.berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2563
For more information see: Current Classes Taught
Professor Komvopoulos has been in the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) since 1989. Before joining UCB, he was in the faculty of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1986-1989). Professor Komvopoulos is internationally known for pioneering research in surface nanosciences and nanoengineering, with important implications in several emerging technologies including communications, microelectronics, information storage, and biotechnology. He is the founder and director of the Surface Sciences and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL) and the Computational Surface Mechanics Laboratory (CSML) and holds the positions of Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UCB, Faculty Scientist, Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Principal Investigator, The Berkeley Stem Cell Center, and Principal Investigator, Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society (CITRIS).
The research of Professor Komvopoulos is at the interfaces of mechanical and electrical engineering, materials sciences, surface physical chemistry, bioengineering, and biology. His work is characterized by a multidisciplinary nature and the combination of analytical and experimental techniques used to analyze complex surface and interface phenomena. His research is based on the integration of fundamentals from mechanics, materials, surface chemistry, and biology, and spans a broad range of scales, from the mesoscopic to the atomic and molecular levels.
Early research accomplishments of Professor Komvopoulos include contact deformation at submicron scales, new friction theories of surfaces interacting in the presence of physicochemically adsorbed monolayers, surface plasticity and fracture of contacting bodies, acoustic emission in surface sliding and machining, synthesis and characterization of ultrathin diamondlike and amorphous carbon films, adhesion forces in miniaturized electromechanical systems, and rheological behavior of boundary films.
In the past two decades, Professor Komvopoulos broadened his research activities, branching into the exploration of various surface microprobe techniques for atomic and molecular level surface analysis, synthesis of self-assembled organic monolayers for reducing adhesion between silicon microdevices, invention of plasma-assisted surface treatments for biopolymers (used in total joint replacements, catheters for minimally invasive treatment of diseased arteries, and cell platforms), deposition of ultrathin (a few atomic layers) amorphous carbon films by sputtering and filtered cathodic vacuum arc for ultrahigh-density magnetic recording and heat-assisted magnetic recording, phase transformations and nanomechanical properties of shape-memory alloys (both in thin-film and bulk form) for retina disks and artery stents, a surface-specific spectroscopy technique (infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy) for in-situ studies of entropically driven molecular rearrangement at various biopolymer surfaces due to in-plane and out-of-plane stretching and aging effects.
Professor Komvopoulos’ most recent work includes plasma-assisted polymer surface functionalization for controlling adhesion and growth of cells, protein secretion due to mechanotransduction in articular cartilage, cell mechanics, patterned media for single-cell growth, and cell infiltration into fibrous scaffolds synthesized by electrospinning, new electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, flexible and stretchable bioelectronics, skin mechanics, and transdermal drug delivery by microneedle arrays, mechanics of biological surfaces, and synthesis of scaffolds with special cues for enhanced biofunctionality.
Professor Komvopoulos’ research is documented in 379 publications consisting of 277 papers published in peer-reviewed archival journals, 71 papers in refereed conference proceedings, 19 papers in symposium proceedings, 2 book chapters, 65 technical reports, and 10 US patents. As of June 2021, Professor Komvopoulos’ publications and patents have been cited more than 13,750 times (h-index = 62, Google Scholar). He has also authored an undergraduate-level textbook (Mechanical Testing of Engineering Materials) and co-authored two monographs (1999 Interface Tribology Towards 100 Gbit/in2; Long Term Durability of Structural Materials: Durability 2000). He has given 225 scholarly presentations at various international conferences, academic institutions, national laboratories, industries, and various media, supervised the research and dissertations of 58 graduate students (33 PhD and 25 MS) and 17 post-doctoral students, visiting faculty, and industry fellows, and consulted with a wide range of industries and law firms on various litigation matters.
Professor Komvopoulos has been elected to the grade of Fellow of STLE (2004) and ASME (2000) and has been the recipient of several awards, including NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989-1996), IBM Faculty Development Award (1990-1992), Berkeley Engineering Fund Award (1989-1990), ASME B. L. Newkirk Award (1988), and NSF Engineering Initiation Award (1987).
At UCB, Professor Komvopoulos teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Plasticity, Fracture, Fatigue, and Tribology and devotes significant time to administration duties at the Department, College, and University system-wide levels. His most recent system-wide committee service includes UC Faculty Welfare, Assembly Representative, Divisional Council, Educational Technology, Courses of Instruction, Graduate Study, and Committee on Academic Planning and Resource Allocation.
Research Description:
Theoretical and numerical studies in nano-/micro-scale contact mechanics, tribology, mechanical behavior of bulk and thin-film materials, deposition and characterization of single and multi-layer ultrathin films by sputtering and filtered cathodic vacuum arc methods, reliability of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), surface force microprobe techniques, surface modification of biopolymers, surface chemical functionalization for enhanced biocompatibility and cell activity, mechanotransduction effects at the single-cell and tissue levels, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and flexible/stretchable bioelectronics.
To learn more about Professor Komvopoulos’ research, please click here.
To view a list of Professor Komvopoulos’ supervised current and past graduate students and visiting scholars, please click here.
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Komvopoulos’ publications, please click here.
Grace X. Gu
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
6177 Etcheverry HallUniversity of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
ggu@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-4996
For more information see: Gu Research Group
Current Classes Taught
Education:
PhD Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2018
MS Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2014
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2012
Research Description:
Research interests: Composites, additive manufacturing, fracture mechanics, topology optimization, machine learning, finite element analysis, and bioinspired materials.
Key Publications:
GX Gu and MJ Buehler. Tunable mechanical properties through texture control of polycrystalline additively manufactured materials using adjoint-based gradient optimization. Acta Mechanica, 2018, Accepted
GX Gu, CT Chen, and MJ Buehler. De novo composite design based on machine learning algorithm. Extreme Mechanics Letters, 18:19-28, 2018
GX Gu, M Takaffoli, and MJ Buehler. Hierarchically enhanced impact resistance of bioinspired composites. Advanced Materials, 29 (28), 2017
GX Gu, S Wettermark, and MJ Buehler. Algorithm driven design of fracture resistant composite materials realized through additive manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing, 17:47-54, 2017
GX Gu, F Libonati, S Wettermark, and MJ. Buehler. Printing nature: Unraveling the role of nacre’s mineral bridges. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 76:135-144, 2017
To view a complete list of Professor Gu’s publications, please visit the Gu Research Group website.
James Casey
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
6125 Etcheverry Hall, Mailstop 1740University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
jimcasey@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2863
For more information see: Current Classes Taught
Research Description:
Continuum mechanics, plasticity, approximate nonlinear theories of elasticity, dynamics of nearly rigid bodies.
Key Publications:
To view a list of Professor Casey’s publications, please click here.
David B. Bogy
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Director, Computer Mechanics Laboratory
Professor of the Graduate School
Director, Computer Mechanics Laboratory
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
dbogy@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2570
For more information see: Computer Mechanics Lab
Current Classes Taught
Research Description:
Mechanics in computer technology: tribology in hard-disk drives, laser measurement systems, numerical simulations. Static and dynamic problems in solid and fluid mechanics.
M. Reza Alam
American Bureau of Shipping Chair in Ocean Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
American Bureau of Shipping Chair in Ocean Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
reza.alam@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-2591
For more information see: TAF Lab
Current Classes Taught
Born in Yazd, a small historic city at the geographic center of Iran, Reza received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering and MSc in Applied Mechanics from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. He then joined the Mechanical Engineering program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. He received his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2005, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2008, and then served as a Postdoctoral associate (2008-2009) and Lecturer (2009-2011) at MIT. In July 2011 Reza joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, CA, as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Research Description:
Theoretical Fluid Dynamics, Nonlinear Wave Mechanics, Ocean and Coastal Waves Phenomena, Ocean Renewable Energy (Wave, Tide and Offshore Wind Energy), Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Fluid Flow Control
Key Publications:
Publications in 2015
Jalali, M. A.; Khoshnood, A., and Alam, M.-R., “Microswimmer-Induced Chaotic Mixing“, Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2015), In Press, [PDF]
Zareei, A. and Alam M.-R., “Cloaking in Shallow Water Waves via Nonlinear Medium Transformation“, Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2015), Volume 778, pp. 273-287
Timmerberg, S, Börner, T., Shakeri, M., Ghorbani, R. and Alam M.-R., “The “Wave Bridge” For Bypassing Oceanic Wave Momentum“, Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy (2015), [PDF]
Couston, L. A., Mei, C. C., and Alam, M.-R. “Landslide Tsunamis in Lakes“, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Volume 772 / June 2015, pp 784- 804. [PDF]
Nia, H. T., Jain, A. D., Liu, Y., Alam, M.-R., Barnas, R., and Makris N.C., “The evolution of air resonance power efficiency in the violin and its ancestors“ Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical & Engineering Sciences, A 471: 20140905. (2015). [PDF]
Börner, T., and Alam, M.-R. “Real Time Hybrid Modeling for Ocean Wave Energy Converters“, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 43, pages 784–795, (2015).
Please visit the TAF Lab website for the previous years’ publications.