Douglas Durian

Douglas Durian is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds the Mary Amanda Wood Professor of Physics and Astronomy title and serves as Founder and Associate Director of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Soft and Living Matter. His research focuses on the statistical and nonlinear physics of soft matter, with recent emphasis on Contrastive Local Learning Networks (CLLNs), which are analog physical systems capable of autonomous learning. He has authored numerous publications in top-tier journals and is actively involved in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of physics, data science, and neuroscience. Durian also teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate physics courses.

Douglas J. Durian is a Mary Amanda Wood Professor of Physics at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in the statistical and nonlinear physics of soft matter, physical computing, and physical learning. His research explores the mechanical behavior of foams, granular materials, and disordered solids, focusing on dynamics, structural defects, and phase transitions. He employs advanced experimental and computational techniques, including diffusing-wave spectroscopy, machine learning, and microfluidic rheology, to study complex systems. His work addresses fundamental questions about the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties in soft materials, with applications in physics, materials science, and engineering.