The Browne Lab is an experimental soft matter laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
We study soft matter and complex fluids in messy settings—where 3D disorder and unsteady forcing can induce nonequilibrium or chaotic dynamics. We use experimental microscopy, combined with material synthesis and characterization, to connect microscale dynamics connect to macroscale properties. These fundamental studies give us insights for engineering soft systems that take advantage of their messy settings.
Welcome to our newest members!
David Amirsadri, PhD Student
Jackson Carter, PhD Student
Joaquina Somma, PhD Student
Our Science in the News
Better mixing leads to faster reactions for important chemicals
– Scott Lyon, Princeton University, Dept. Chemical and Biological Engineering
Pouring cream into coffee creates a show of eddies that rivals Jupiter’s roiling storms. But one clank of the spoon collapses all that black and tan chaos into a smooth, uniform brown…
An Injection of Chaos Solves Decades-Old Fluid Mystery
– Adam Mann, Quanta Magazine
In the 1960s, drillers noticed that certain fluids would firm up if they flowed too fast. Researchers have finally explained why…
Beyond Displays: Liquid Crystals in Motion Mimic Biological Systems
– Ian Scheffler, University of Pennsylvania, Dept. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Liquid crystals are all around us, from cell phone screens and video game consoles to car dashboards and medical devices. Researchers recently discovered these fascinating molecules may be able to do even more…
Why Some Fluids Flow Slower When Pushed Harder
– Rachel Berkowitz, Scientific American
A transparent rock experiment shows how stretchy molecules kick up eddies…
Browne Lab 