Dr. Robert Westervelt

Biography

Robert Westervelt is a Mallinckrodt Professor of Applied Physics and Physics at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1977 and has since established a notable career in experimental physics. His research group investigates the quantum behavior of electrons in nanoscale semiconductor structures and develops tools for manipulating biological systems. He has made significant contributions to the field of mesoscopic physics, including the development of liquid-helium cooled scanning probe microscopes to visualize electron motion in nanoscale devices. His work has successfully visualized the flow of electron waves and observed diffraction patterns from coherent interference in two-dimensional electron gas. In biophysics, Westervelt's group has developed hybrid Integrated Circuit/Microfluidic chips, merging CMOS technology with microfluidics to create programmable systems capable of manipulating biological cells and small particles. He also directs the NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center at Harvard, collaborating with institutions such as MIT and UC Santa Barbara.

Research Interests