Research Highlights
Research Bar
Bacteria and radiation Bacteria and radiation
Atomic Theory of Dynamic Fracture Atomic Theory of Dynamic Fracture
Optical Trapping of Biological Material Optical Trapping of Biological Material
Swarming Dynamics Swarming Dynamics
Mechanical Contact Spectroscopy Mechanical Contact Spectroscopy
Continental Slope Continental Slope
Biofilm mechanics and the immune system Biofilm mechanics and the immune system
Supersonic Cracks Supersonic Cracks
Granular Media Nucleation Granular Media Nucleation

Recent Publications

Initial evidence that peer instruction is less effective for physics students with lower quantitative preparation in a highly heterogeneous class
Eric N Smith, Jacob Helwig, Kathryn Hendren, Jane M Huk, Vernita Gordon, American Journal of Physics 93 7541-550 (2025) pdf
Surface remodeling and inversion of cell-matrix interactions underlie community recognition and dispersal in Vibrio cholerae biofilms
Alexis Moreau, Danh T Nguyen, Alexander J Hinbest, Anthony Zamora, Ranjuna Weerasekera, Katherine Matej, Xuening Zhou, Sandra Sanchez, Ignacio Rodriguez Brenes, Jung-Shen Benny Tai, Carey D Nadell, Wai-Leung Ng, Vernita Gordon, Natalia L Komarova, Rich Olson, Ying Li, Jing Yan, Nature Communications 16 327 (2025) pdf
Predicting characterization of microbiome taxonomy from imaging using machine learning approaches
Brandon Niese, Philip Sweet, Bryan Dinh, Amanda N Scholes, Danielle S LeSassier, Krista L Ternus, Lydia Contreras, Vernita Gordon, bioRxiv2025.02. 03.636311 (2025) pdf
Breaking fast and slow
M. Marder, Nature Physics 20 546-547 (2024)
From cracks to atoms and back again
M. Marder, Physics Today 77 62–63 (2024)
Structure-preserving fixation allows scanning electron microscopy to reveal biofilm microstructure and interactions with immune cells
Marilyn Wells, Michelle Mikesh, Vernita GOrdon, Langmuir (2024)
Geometric changes in the nucleoids of Deinococcus radiodurans reveal involvement of new proteins in recovery from ionizing radiation.
Antonio Cordova, Brandon Niese, Philip Sweet, Pratik Kamat, Jude M Phillip, Vernita Gordon, Lydia M Contreras, (2024)
The ethics perspective of physics department chairs
M. Marder, F. A. Houle, and K. Kirby, Physics Today 77 22-27 (2024)