• Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • J. Mike Walker ‘66 Faculty Fellow I
  • Affiliated Faculty, Materials Science and Engineering
Matt Pharr

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

    • 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).