Professor Dr. Nicholas Boechler

Biography

Nicholas S. Boechler is an Associate Professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering. He specializes in dynamically responsive microstructured materials, wave propagation, nonlinear dynamics, self-assembly, granular media, metamaterials, shock impact physics, laser ultrasonics, topology optimization, high strain rate mechanics, and soft material dynamics. His research employs a combined experimental, computational, and analytical approach to uncover new understandings that enable the design of materials with extraordinary properties. His work focuses on manipulating stress wave propagation through designed microstructures with strong nonlinearities, and he is particularly interested in the dynamics of self-assembled systems. Recent topics of interest include the dynamics of soft materials prone to instability, photo-elastically tunable materials, and mechanochemically responsive polymers. His fundamental advances could lead to ultra-light, highly adaptive, resilient material systems capable of being manufactured rapidly and in large quantities, with applications in sound vibration management, impact protection, signal processing, national security, and civil infrastructure.

Research Interests

Awards