Dr. Thomas Powers

Biography

Professor Thomas Powers specializes in the fields of Engineering and Physics. He earned his S.B. in Physics and Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 and completed his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1995, where he was advised by Prof. Phil Nelson. His academic career includes postdoctoral positions at prominent institutions such as Princeton University, the University of Arizona, and Harvard University. In 2000, he joined the Division of Engineering at Brown University as the holder of the James R. Rice Term Chair in Solid Mechanics. Professor Powers is also known for his editorial roles, including serving as the associate editor for the Reviews of Modern Physics in multiple areas including fluid dynamics and biological physics. His research primarily focuses on soft matter physics, molecular and cellular biomechanics, and nonlinear dynamics. Notably, he has contributed significantly to understanding the mechanics of soft materials and complex fluids, with numerous funded research projects from the National Science Foundation.

Research Interests

Experience

Courses