Douglas Holmes, PhD Professor (ME, MSE)
Education PhD, Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
In the News
June 24, 2025
"They exemplify each day the depth and excellence of Boston University’s talented academic community.” [ More ]
December 18, 2024
“The quality of the research that these inaugural infrastructure awards will support is incredible." [ More ]
Publications
Research Areas Slender structures are ubiquitous. Commonly described by rods, plates, and shells, these thin structures are embodied by carbon nanotubes, air plane wings, blood vessels, spider silk, contact lenses, and human hair. The mechanics of these thin objects are fascinating because geometric nonlinearities will arise even as the material properties remain linear – hair will curl and tangle, skin will wrinkle, and the Venus flytrap will rapidly snap its leaves closed. Professor Holmes is interested in understanding and controlling the mechanics, physics, and geometry of these thin structures, and our lab aims to harness material and structural instability for advanced functionality.
Honors and Awards NSF CAREER Award — CMMI: Mechanics of Materials, 2015
Additional Affiliations Division of Materials Science & Engineering
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