Benjamin Evans
Associate Professor of Physics | Elon University
Elon, NC, UNITED STATES
Benjamin Evans is an expert in the application of nanoscale techniques to explore questions of biological interest.
Biography
Benjamin Evans is an Associate Professor of Physics. He is primarily interested in the application of nano- and microscale techniques to explore questions of biological interest. His current work is in the development of novel magnetic polymers for a variety of biomedical applications, ranging from sensors and actuators to cancer therapeutics.
Areas of Expertise (7)
Nanotechnology
Biotechnology
Magnetic Materials
Nanoparticles
Soft Robotics
Biomimetic Cilia
Magnetic Hyperthermia
Media
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Accomplishments (1)
National Science Foundation Grant
2017 Evans awarded $108,000 National Science Foundation grant for research in soft robotics.
Education (3)
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: Ph.D., Physics 2008
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: M.A., Physics 2005
Rhodes College: B.S., Physics 2003
Links (2)
Media Appearances (5)
NCSU, Elon researchers develop technique to control, reconfigure 'soft robots' remotely
WRAL TechWire online
2019-08-13
The article highlights the recent research by Evans and his colleagues at N.C. State University focused on a technique that allows them to remotely control the movement of soft robots, lock them into position and reconfigure them into new shapes as needed.
Passionately Curious: Ben Evans on deciphering unanswered scientific questions
E-Net News online
2019-03-13
If physics is all about understanding the simplest bits of everything, then one particularly fiddly bit of everything turns out to be magnetics. Magnets feel simple, which is endearing – but I’ve found they are delightfully, devastatingly obtuse, and they are a puzzle I fear I’ll never solve. And I’ve always been one for puzzles...
‘Elon University Faculty: Passionately Curious’ celebrates faculty scholarship
E-Net News online
2018-11-14
“Elon University Faculty: Passionately Curious” celebrates our ethos of academic excellence. I invite you to read the stories behind these faculty members’ personal drive to discover new knowledge and better our world. They are exploring topics such as the future of the internet, the impact of technology on women’s empowerment, the lived experience of adolescents and young adults with HIV and the role of storytelling in expanding our understanding of humanity. All are fiercely committed to working alongside students as co-inquirers and lifelong learners. Report:Ben Evans, associate professor of physics
Evans awarded $108,000 National Science Foundation grant for research in soft robotics
E-Net News online
2017-04-11
Ben Evans, associate professor of physics, has received a National Science Foundation grant for $108,182 for his research in the field of soft robotics. Soft robotics is a relatively new but fast-growing field that uses soft materials such as polymers that are formed into devices that have a mechanical response that can be triggered by physical or chemical stimuli...
Technique uses magnets, light to control and reconfigure soft robots
Science Daily online
2016-08-02
The paper, "Photothermally and Magnetically Controlled Reconfiguration of Polymer Composites for Soft Robotics," appears in the journal Science Advances. First author of the paper is Jessica Liu, a Ph.D. student at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Jonathan Gillen, a former undergraduate at NC State; Sumeet Mishra, a former Ph.D. student at NC State; and Benjamin Evans, an associate professor of physics at Elon University...
Articles (6)
Photothermally and magnetically controlled reconfiguration of polymer composites for soft robotics
Science Advances
2019 New materials are advancing the field of soft robotics. Composite films of magnetic iron microparticles dispersed in a shape memory polymer matrix are demonstrated for reconfigurable, remotely actuated soft robots. The composite films simultaneously respond to magnetic fields and light.
Magnetically Aligned Nanorods in Alginate Capsules (MANiACs): Soft Matter Tumbling Robots for Manipulation and Drug Delivery
Micromachines
2019 Soft, untethered microrobots composed of biocompatible materials for completing micromanipulation and drug delivery tasks in lab-on-a-chip and medical scenarios are currently being developed. Alginate holds significant potential in medical microrobotics due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and drug encapsulation capabilities.
Magnetically Actuated Dynamic Iridescence Inspired by the Neon Tetra
ACS Publications
2019 Inspired by the tropical fish neon tetra, we report a mechanism to achieve dynamic iridescence that can be magnetically tuned. This approach is based on the tilting of periodic photonic nanostructures, as opposed to the more common strain-induced color tuning.
Non-monotonicity in the influence of nanoparticle concentration on SAR in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
2018 Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) has shown substantial promise as an alternative therapy for deep-tissue tumors or resistant bacterial films. However, while great progress has been made in understanding the physical mechanisms of thermal energy dissipation in MNH, the influence of interparticle magnetic interactions in concentrated solutions remains a substantial challenge limiting progress toward clinical adoption.
Chained Iron Microparticles for Directionally Controlled Actuation of Soft Robots
ACS Publications
2017 Magnetic field-directed self-assembly of magnetic particles in chains is useful for developing directionally responsive materials for applications in soft robotics. Using materials with greater complexity allows advanced functions, while still using simple device architectures.
Magnetic microkayaks: propulsion of microrods precessing near a surface by kilohertz frequency, rotating magnetic fields
Nanoscale
2017 Surface-swimming nano- and micromotors hold significant potential for on-chip mixing, flow generation, sample manipulation, and microrobotics. Here we describe rotating microrods magnetized nearly orthogonally to their long axes.
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