Mechanics of Soft Interfaces

Macroscopically, soft materials exhibit a mixture of fluid and solid properties, which are evident in familiar pastes, gels, and foams.  Microscopically, thermal fluctuations compete with interfacial and molecular forces to determine the dynamics of soft materials.  We investigate a variety of mechanical phenomena in soft materials including the basic physics of simple colloidal systems as well as the more complex mechanical properties of live cells and tissues. We are developing new methods to investigate the mechanics of these materials with a focus on mechanics of soft interfaces, including the role of surface tension in soft solids.