Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM)

Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular MechanicsThe lab's research is focused on understanding the mechanics of deformation and failure of biological materials. By utilizing a computational materials science approach, our goal is to understand the mechanical properties of biological materials from a fundamental level.

Catastrophic phenomena that afflict millions of lives, ranging from the failure of the Earth’s crust in earthquakes, to the collapse of buildings, to the failure of bones due to injuries, all have one common underlying theme: the breakdown of the basic constituents of any material ultimately leads to the failure of its overall structure and intended function.

The failure and deformation of engineering materials has been studied extensively and has impacted our world by enabling the design of complex structures and advanced devices. However, the mechanisms of failure in biological systems are not well understood, and represents an opportunity to generate novel concepts to initiate a new paradigm of materials science.

Collaboration and inter-/multidisciplinary work -- The mechanics of complex materials can only be understood by integrating expertise from different academic disciplines, including mechanical engineering, materials science, biology and chemistry. The lab includes students and postdocs from a variety of academic backgrounds.