Dr. William Curtin

Professor

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Biography

Professor William Curtin returned to Brown University, where he had a visiting position starting September 1, 2022, and became a full-time faculty member on January 1, 2023, after an eleven-year tenure at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. He received a combined ScB/ScM degree in Physics from Brown University in 1981 and a PhD in theoretical physics from Cornell University in 1986. Professor Curtin has worked extensively in the field of materials science, specifically focusing on the optical properties of metal nanoparticles and statistical mechanics of freezing. He joined the Applied Physics Group at British Petroleum Research Laboratories in Cleveland, OH, and worked on hydrogen storage, amorphous metal alloys, and crystal/melt interfaces. In 1993, he joined Virginia Tech with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering and Engineering Science & Mechanics, returning to Brown University in 1998 as a member of the Solid Mechanics group within the Division of Engineering. He was appointed the Elisha Benjamin Andrews Professor in 2006 and later became the Institute Director at EPFL. His research centers on multiscale modeling of the mechanical behavior of materials, with a focus on fracture and strengthening mechanisms in metals, including lightweight Aluminum and Magnesium alloys, and High Entropy Alloys.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2023-01-01 — Present

Brown University • Providence, RI

Full-time faculty member in the Division of Engineering.

Institute Director

2011-01-01 — 2012-01-01

EPFL • Lausanne, Switzerland

Founded and directed the Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

Awards

#

Guggenheim Fellowship

#

Elisha Benjamin Andrews Professor

2006-01-01
#

Most Valuable Colleague

2006-01-01

Courses

Dynamics and Vibrations Continuum Mechanics Strength of Solids Micromechanics Applications

Requirements for Brown University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in Economics or related field
Application Checklist
  • Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • GRE Scores
  • TOEFL/IELTS Scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Economics