Ronald G. Larson stands as a preeminent scholar in complex fluid mechanics and polymer physics, holding the distinguished position of A.H. White Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He also maintains professorial appointments in Mechanical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work. After earning his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1975, 1977, and 1980 respectively, he established his research foundation during a sixteen-year tenure as a Member of the Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories. His transition to the University of Michigan in 1996 marked the beginning of a transformative period for the Chemical Engineering Department, where he served as Department Chair from 2000 to 2008 while maintaining his dual appointments across multiple engineering disciplines.
Professor Larson's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of complex fluid rheology, particularly through his discovery of novel viscoelastic instabilities in polymer flows and the development of predictive theoretical frameworks for their behavior. His seminal 1998 textbook 'The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids' has become the definitive reference in the field, providing comprehensive theoretical foundations that bridge molecular-scale phenomena with macroscopic flow properties. His work has elucidated the flow properties of complex fluids at both molecular and continuum levels through innovative theoretical approaches and computational simulations, establishing him as a world leader in polymer physics. These contributions have had profound implications across numerous industries including materials science, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, where understanding complex fluid behavior is critical to product development and processing.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Larson has profoundly shaped the field through extensive leadership roles, including serving as President of the Society of Rheology from 1997 to 1999 and maintaining continuous involvement in the Fluid Mechanics Steering Committee since 2001. He has mentored generations of researchers through his active laboratory group, which continues to pursue cutting-edge work on molecular simulations of polymers, surfactants, and biomolecules at the University of Michigan's Biointerfaces Institute. His editorial contributions to the Journal of Rheology and Rheologica Acta have helped define the scholarly discourse in the field for decades. Currently, Professor Larson remains at the forefront of complex fluid research, guiding his laboratory's investigations into multi-scale simulations that bridge thermodynamics and flow behavior of polymeric, colloidal, and surfactant materials, ensuring his continued influence on the next frontiers of fluid mechanics science.
