Scientists Use Force to ‘Write’ Atomically Thin Superconductors News / August 24, 2026 Penn Engineers and researchers at Princeton develop new mechanochemical technique that transforms an atomic force microscope into a nanoscale manufacturing tool for next-generation electronics. Read More
Sumit Kumar Receives 2026 STLE Scholarship News / August 4, 2026 Sumit Kumar received an STLE scholarship to advance research on mucus-inspired biomaterials that could improve lubrication and reduce wear in healthcare applications, including treatments for cystic fibrosis and dry eye disease. Read More
Why are Icy Surfaces Slippery? News / January 28, 2026 Robert W. Carpick joins Science Friday host Ira Flatow to explain why ice is slippery, drawing on his research in tribology, the study of friction and surface interactions. Read More
Li Yuan Defends Dissertation on Self-Assembly of 2D Materials News / December 1, 2025 Li Yuan has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), marking the culmination of a journey that carried him from uncertainty during the COVID era to a deep, confident understanding of the mechanics and physics of ultrathin materials. His dissertation, “Exploring Self-Assembly of 2D Materials:... Read More
Cracking the Code of Force-Driven Chemistry News / July 17, 2025 When asked to think of a chemical reaction, you might picture bubbling liquids in a beaker, or maybe applying heat to a mixture until something transforms. But some of the most important reactions in nature and industry don’t need heat or solvents. Instead, they need force. Mechanochemistry is where physical... Read More
Knowing When to Bend or Break: Penn Engineers Examine the Fracture Mechanics of 3D Graphene Structures News / May 7, 2025 When do materials bend and when do they break? For Ottman Tertuliano, AMA Family Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), this question is one he normally investigates in human bones. But in a new study with Robert Carpick, John Henry Towne Professor in MEAM, Tertuliano turns to graphene, a tough, flexible... Read More
Carpick Research Group Contributes to Pixelligent Success Story News / May 20, 2024 Penn Engineering faculty bring the spirit of entrepreneurship to life through their collaborations in a wide range of startups, products and external partnerships each year. The research group led by Rob Carpick, John Henry Towne Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics and in Material Science and Engineering, has long-supported the... Read More
Understanding the Northeast Earthquake News / April 8, 2024 Last week, people in the Northeast, including many at Penn, experienced an unusual disruption to their day as the ground beneath and walls around started to shake for about half a minute. The magnitude 4.8 earthquake was, for some, a once in a lifetime occurrence. Centered in New Jersey, the... Read More
