Dr. Randall Kamien

Biography

Randall Kamien is a standing faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, holding the position of Vicki William Abrams Professor of Natural Sciences since 2006. He has a rich academic background, having completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1992 and both B.S. and M.S. degrees at the California Institute of Technology in 1988. His research interests primarily revolve around soft condensed matter theory, focusing on materials geometry and the Landau theory of broken symmetry, which are crucial for understanding material properties. He explores linear realizations of symmetries and analyzes relevant perturbations in anharmonic elasticity. Additionally, he employs geometric tools to capture the behavior of soft matter, particularly emphasizing the study of topological defects and invariant properties within systems exhibiting broken symmetries. Kamien's academic journey includes notable positions such as a Simons Investigator and a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at his current institution, as well as a membership at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. He has also contributed significantly to teaching, offering courses on statistical mechanics and mathematical methods in physics.

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