A key focus in Julia R. Greer’s research is the development of three-dimensional nano-architectures and designing experiments to assess their properties and deformation mechanisms. These “nano-metamaterials” have multiple applications, for example, as biomedical devices, battery electrodes, and lightweight structural materials and provide a rich “playground” for fundamental scientific pursuits. Greer received her SB degree in chemical engineering with a minor in advanced music performance from MIT in 1997, and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University. She has also worked as an integration engineer at Intel Corporation (2000–2003) and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Palo Alto Research Center, PARC (2005–2007). Greer joined the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences of the California Institute of Technology in 2007 and has appointments in materials science, mechanical engineering, and medical engineering departments.
Greer was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (2014) and is a recipient of the Nano Letters Young Investigator Lectureship (2013), Society of Engineering Science Young Investigator Award (2013), TMS Early Career Faculty Award (2013), the inaugural NASA Early Career Faculty Award (2012), Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award (2012), Sia Nemat-Nasser ASME Early Career Award (2011), DOE Early Career Award (2011), WTN’s World Technology Award in Materials (2010), TMS’ Young Leaders Award in Structural Materials Division (2010), DARPA’s Young Faculty Award (2009), Technology Review’s Top Young Innovator Under 35 Award, TR-35 (2008) and NSF’s CAREER Award (2007). Greer serves as an associate editor of Nano Letters and on the board of reviewing editors for Science. She is also a concert pianist, with most recent performances of “nanomechanics rap” with MUSE.IQUE (director Rachael Worby), solo piano recitals and chamber concerts at Caltech (2007 to present) and as a soloist of the Brahms Concerto No. 2 with the Redwood Symphony (2006).
At the 2014 MRS Fall Meeting, Greer presented "Three-Dimensional Architected Nanostructured Meta-Materials."
Available for free viewing via MRS OnDemand.