Michael Falk

Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering; Physics and Astronomy

Research Interests

  • Theoretical and computational research investigating materials processes far from equilibrium
  • Deformation, failure and fracture in non-crystalline materials such as metallic glasses
  • Interactions of stress and diffusion in semiconductor crystals and energy storage materials
  • Mixing processes that accompany frictional sliding and wear
  • Phase formation during solid state reactions

CV/Bio

  • B.A. Johns Hopkins University, Physics, 1990
  • M.S.E. Johns Hopkins University, Computer Science, 1991
  • Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, Physics, 1998

Classes

  • EN.510.312 Physical Chemistry of Materials I: Thermodynamics
  • EN.510.410 Simulation of Materials and Biological Systems
  • EN.510.602 Thermodynamics of Materials
  • EN.510.630 Molecular Simulation of Materials

Awards

  • Chaire Joliot, Ecole Superieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles, Paris, FRANCE
  • Elected Member at Large, American Physical Society Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics, 2011-2014
  • Diversity Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Institutions Diversity Leadership Council, 2011
  • National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Educator Award, 2008
  • Jon R. and Beverly Holt Award for Excellence in Teaching, UM, 2005
  • 1938E Award, College of Engineering, UM, 2005
  • Outstanding Student Group Advisor Award, Epeians Engineering Leadership Society, UM, 2005
  • Poster Award Winner, Strain Localization in a Molecular-Dynamics Model of a Metallic Glass, Materials Research Society, Fall Meeting, 2002
  • New Century Scholar, NSF Faculty Development Program, 2002
  • Best Classroom Climate Award, UM Society of Women Engineers, 2002
  • NSF CAREER Award, 2002
  • American Physical Society Nicholas Metropolis Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Computational Physics, 2000
  • UCSB Graduation Ceremony Commencement Speaker, 1998
  • DOE Computational Sciences Graduate Fellowship, 1995-98
  • Luce Scholar, 1991-1992
  • Inducted Phi Beta Kappa, Johns Hopkins University, 1990.

Group Members