Eric Robert Dufresne
Professor, Physics and Materials Science and Engineering
Academic focus:
Materials biophysics, biologically-inspired materials
Current research project:
We study biologically-inspired materials design and materials of life. We aim to reveal novel physical principles that living organisms use to organize molecules into functional structures, and port those over to synthetic systems. The underlying hypothesis is that biological organizational principles are different than the ones normally used by engineers and have evolved to be sustainable.
Previous positions:
- Professor of Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 2016-2023
- Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, 2010-2015
- Director, Center for Engineering Innovation and Design, Yale University, 2012-2014
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, 2004-2010
Academic background:
- Ph.D., Physics, University of Chicago, 2000
- B.S., Physics, Yale University, 1996
Last book read:
“Whose Body” by Dorothy Sayers
In your own time/when not working:
Walking, swimming, biking. Just started birding since moving to Ithaca.
Courses you’re most looking forward to teaching:
Materials biophysics
What most excites you about Cornell:
The collaborative atmosphere and the amazing infrastructure, particularly CHESS
Twitter handle:
@SoftLiv_Cornell
