assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D., B.Sc. (Hons), B.Sc., (all in physics), Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Courses teaching: This fall, he is team teaching ChBE 221, Principles of Chemical Engineering.
Research interests: Rogers investigates the fundamental physics behind time-dependent phenomena exhibited by soft matter under deformation for biomedical, energy and environment applications.
“Illinois has a tradition of strength in complex fluids and soft matter across many departments, including chemical and biomolecular engineering,” said Paul Kenis, the head of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “What Simon Rogers researches is time-resolved, dynamic rheology. He looks at systems previously not studied because they were too complex.”
Why Illinois? “The University of Illinois has always been strong in the field of complex fluids and soft matter, my chosen area of study,” Rogers said. “Researchers at the Urbana campus in the physics, materials science, mechanical engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering departments have led the world in their investigations of these materials. In addition to joining a university with great heritage in my area of expertise, there is an energetic group of young researchers in this area. In short, the university has a great history and future in soft matter research.
“My wife and I also were excited by what the town has to offer in terms of the quality of life for our family. Having lived in numerous places around the world, we are happy to be settled in Illinois.”
