Julia R. Greer is the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics, and Medical Engineering, and the Department Chair of Applied Physics and Materials Science Department at Caltech. She is also an Editor in Chief of the Journal of Applied Physics. Her research focuses on designing and understanding nano-architected materials made through additive manufacturing, revealing how atomic- and molecular-level microstructure connects to larger-scale architectural and dimensional effects driving properties such as mechanical performance, electrochemical behavior, and chemo-bio-mechanical response. Her work supports applications including energy absorption, ultralight energy storage, mechanochemistry, and reconfigurable, multifunctional materials.
Greer earned her S.B. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Advanced Music Performance from MIT (1997) and her Ph.D. in Materials Science from Stanford, and has since become one of the most widely published researchers in her field (170+ publications; h-index 83). She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences of the USA in 2025 and has received major honors including the Nadai Medal (ASME, 2024) and the Eringer Medal (SES, 2024), as well as earlier recognition such as the Vannevar-Bush Faculty Fellowship (2016) and the inaugural AAAFM-Heeger Award (2019).
An active concert pianist, she performs solo recitals and in chamber groups, and has appeared as a soloist with Redwood Symphony, including Brahms Concerto No. 2 (2006) and with the Caltech Orchestra (Rachmaninoff’s 2nd, 2025). Julia also loves rollerblading. She roller blades to and from her kids’ school and to and from work and has even participated in a rollerblading marathon, earning 2nd place in her age group.