- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- J. Mike Walker ‘66 Faculty Fellow I
- Affiliated Faculty, Materials Science and Engineering
- Phone: 979-458-3114
- Email: mpharr85@tamu.edu
- Office: MEOB 221
- Website: Research Webpage
- Linkedin: Profile
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Engineering Sciences, Harvard University – 2014
- S.M., Engineering Sciences, Harvard University – 2010
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rice University – 2008
- B.A., Materials Science, Rice University – 2008
Research Interests
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- Chemo-mechanics and electro-chemo-mechanics
- Deformation and fracture of soft materials
- Materials for energy storage and conversion
- Biomechanics of plants, e.g., for bioenergy production
- Mechanics of irradiated materials, e.g., for medical devices
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Mechanics of microelectronics, flexible/wearable electronics, and materials for neuromorphic computing
Awards & Honors
- The Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching - 2022
- College of Engineering TEES Young Faculty Fellow - 2022
- The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society Light Metals Division- Young Leaders Professional Development Award - 2021
- Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Scholars Award - 2020
- NSF CAREER Award - 2020
- Kaneka Junior Faculty Award - 2019
- Peggy L. & Charles Brittan ’65 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award - 2019
- Haythornthwaite Research Initiation Grant Award through ASME AMD - 2017
Selected Publications
- Md Kamrul Hasan, David Staack, Matt Pharr, et. al. “Connecting radiation-driven changes in structural, thermal, and mechanical properties in several medical device polymers.” Polymer Degradation and Stability 221, 110677 (2024).
- Yuwei Zhang, Cole D. Fincher, Matt Pharr, et. al., “Strategic texturation of VO2 thin films for tuning mechanical, structural, and electronic couplings during metal-insulator transitions.” Acta Materialia 242, 118478 (2023).
- Seunghyun Lee, Omid Zargar, Matt Pharr, et. al., “Time-dependent Mechanical Behavior of Sweet Sorghum Stems.” Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 106, 103731 (2020).
- Cole D. Fincher, Daniela Ojeda, Matt Pharr, et.al., “Mechanical Properties of Metallic Lithium: from Nano to Bulk Scales.” Acta Materialia 186, 215-222 (2020).
- Seunghyun Lee and Matt Pharr. “ ‘Sideways’ and stable crack propagation in a silicone elastomer.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116 (19), 9251-9256 (2019).