Jeremy Laprade

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About

Jeremy Laprade is a rising force in the physics of active matter, with a particular focus on the hydrodynamics and topological behavior of active nematic liquid crystals. His work bridges fundamental soft matter physics and biological self-organization, exploring how internally driven, anisotropic fluids can spontaneously deform, flow, and transition between ordered states. Laprade’s major contribution lies in elucidating the “Active Fréedericksz Transition” within active nematic droplets—a phenomenon where active stresses induce a spontaneous symmetry-breaking distortion analogous to the classic Fréedericksz transition in passive liquid crystals, but without any external field. This work, published in 2024 and already garnering 8 citations, provides a crucial theoretical framework for understanding how living materials like the mitotic spindle can self-assemble and maintain order in quiescent environments. By demonstrating that reconstituted active systems can exhibit such transitions, Laprade’s research offers a powerful platform for designing synthetic active materials and for deciphering the physical principles underlying cellular organization. His findings are not only reshaping our understanding of active nematics but also paving the way for novel applications in soft robotics and biomimetic materials.