Tevis Jacobs

Education & Experience

University of Pennsylvania

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
2008 – 2013

Stanford University

MSc, Materials Science and Engineering
2004 – 2006

Churchill College, Cambridge University

MPhil, Computer Modeling of Materials
2003 – 2004

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, also Materials Science & Engineering
1999 – 2003

Elsewhere Online

Pitt U Profile

Bio

The focus of our research is to reveal the physical processes governing the mechanics of surfaces and interfaces. Contacting surfaces are of critical importance in advanced manufacturing, micro-/nano-devices, and scanning probe microscopy applications. The function of such applications depends on the ability to precisely predict and control contact parameters such as contact area, contact stiffness, adhesion, and electrical and thermal transport. Our group uses novel combinations of in situ electron microscopy, multi-scale mechanical testing, and multi-scale topography characterization to interrogate the mechanics, tribology, and functional properties of contacts. On the small scale, we achieve Angstrom-scale spatial resolution and nanonewton force resolution, to interrogate atomic-scale processes. On the large-scale, we use micro- and macro-scale testing of larger contacts that contain multi-scale surface roughness. This enables the scale-up of nanoscale insights to describe functional properties of larger-scale surfaces. Our goal is to develop quantitative, fundamental, and predictive understanding of contact behavior, which will enable tailored surface properties for advanced technologies.