Tyler Engstrom

Contact Information

Education

Ph.D. Physics, Penn State University (2015)

B.S. Metallurgical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (2005)

Professional/Academic Experience

Assistant Professor, University of Northern Colorado (2021-)
Editorial Board, American Journal of Physics (2021-)
Associate Editor, American Journal of Physics (2020-2021)
Product Development Scientist, MiTeGen (2020-2021)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2019 & 2016)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Syracuse University (2016-2018)

Research/Areas of Interest

Topics in soft matter physics and biophysics, including elastic instabilities, cell and tissue mechanics, organ morphogenesis, soft sphere packing, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM)

Publications/Creative Works

Journal Articles:

Dynamics of certain Euler-Bernoulli rods and rings from a minimal coupling quantum isomorphism, T. A. Engstrom, Phys. Rev. E 107, 065005 (2023)

High-resolution single-particle cryo-EM of samples vitrified in boiling nitrogen, T. A. Engstrom, J. A. Clinger, K. A. Spoth, O. B. Clarke, D. S. Closs, R. Jayne, B. A. Apker, and R. E. Thorne, IUCrJ 8, 1-11 (2021)

The quantum character of buckling instabilities in thin rods, T. A. Engstrom, Am. J. Phys. 88, 845 (2020)

Loops versus lines and the compression stiffening of cells, M. C. Gandikota, K. Pogoda, A. van Oosten, T. A. Engstrom, A. E. Patteson, P. A. Janmey, & J. M. Schwarz, Soft Matter 16, 4389 (2020)

Compression stiffening in biological tissues: On the possibility of classic elasticity origins, T. A. Engstrom, K. Pogoda, K. Cruz, P. A. Janmey, & J. M. Schwarz, Phys. Rev. E 99, 052413 (2019)

Cerebellar folding is initiated by mechanical constraints on a fluid-like layer without a cellular pre-pattern, A. K. Lawton, T. A. Engstrom, D. Rohrbach, M. Omura, D. H. Turnbull, J. Mamou, Teng Zhang, J. M. Schwarz, & A. L. Joyner, eLife 8, e45019 (2019)

Buckling without bending: a new paradigm in morphogenesis, T. A. Engstrom, Teng Zhang, A. K. Lawton, A. L. Joyner, & J. M. Schwarz, Phys. Rev. X 8, 041053 (2018)

Surface creasing of soft elastic continua as a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, T. A. Engstrom & J. M. Schwarz, Europhys. Lett. 118, 56005 (2017)

Crystal chemistry of three-component white dwarfs and neutron star crusts: phase stability, phase stratification and physical properties, T. A. Engstrom, N. C. Yoder, & V. H. Crespi, Astrophys. J. 818:183 (2016)

Microphysics of neutron star outer envelopes in the periodized, magnetic Thomas-Fermi model, T. A. Engstrom, V. H. Crespi, B. J. Owen, J. Brannick, & Xiaozhe Hu, arXiv:1409.3299 (2015)

A computer-controlled classroom model of an atomic force microscope, T. A. Engstrom, M. M. Johnson, P. C. Eklund, & T. J. Russin, Phys. Teach. 53 (2015)

Probing phase coherence in solid helium using torsional oscillators of different path lengths, D. Y. Kim, J. T. West, T. A. Engstrom, N. Mulders, & M. H. W. Chan, Phys. Rev. B 85, 024533 (2012)

Effects of friction stir welding on mechanical properties of the cast aluminum alloys A319 and A356, M. L. Santella, T. A. Engstrom, D. Storjohann, & T.-Y. Pan, Scr. Mater. 53, 2 (2005)

Recent Presentations:

New insights from an analogy between a 1D quantum particle and a 3D dynamically and helically buckled rod, T. A. Engstrom, APS March Meeting, Las Vegas (2023)

Morphogenesis of the Cerebellum (and other adventures in buckling instabilities), T. A. Engstrom,Biological Sciences Seminar, University of Northern Colorado (Feb 4, 2022)

How does the “little brain” get its folds? (and other adventures in buckling instabilities), T. A. Engstrom, Virtual Physics Seminar, University of Northern Colorado (Mar 10, 2021)

Stability and instability in soft matter physics: from neutron star crusts to the central nervous system and beyond, T. A. Engstrom, Physics and Astronomy Seminar, Rochester Institute of Technology (Feb 19, 2020)

How does the brain get its folds? (and other problems in the physics of squishy stuff), T. A. Engstrom, Physics Seminar, SUNY Cortland (Feb 25, 2019)

How does the little brain get its folds? T. A. Engstrom, Teng Zhang, A. K. Lawton, A. L. Joyner, & J. M. Schwarz, World Congress of Biomechanics, Dublin (2018)

How does the little brain get its folds? T. A. Engstrom, Teng Zhang, A. K. Lawton, A. L. Joyner, & J. M. Schwarz, APS March Meeting, Los Angeles (2018)

How does the little brain get its folds? (poster), T. A. Engstrom, Teng Zhang, A. K. Lawton, A. L. Joyner, & J. M. Schwarz, Mechanics in Morphogenesis, Princeton University (2018)

Micro-creasing of inhomogeneous elastic media (poster), T. A. Engstrom & J. M. Schwarz, Soft Matter Gordon Research Conference, Colby-Sawyer College (2017)

An elastic dimpling instability with Kosterlitz-Thouless character and a precursor role in creasing, T. A. Engstrom, J. Paulsen, & J. M. Schwarz, APS March Meeting, New Orleans (2017)

Really condensed matter: problems in the physics of neutron star crusts and white dwarf interiors, T. A. Engstrom, Condensed Matter and Biophysics Seminar, Syracuse University (Oct 14, 2016)

Really condensed matter: the physics of neutron star crusts and white dwarf interiors, Joint Physics/Materials Engineering and Science Seminar, T. A. Engstrom, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Sept 30, 2016)

Honors and Awards

College of Natural and Health Sciences' Grant-writing Incentive Program (GRIP) Award, T. A. Engstrom and A. James, co-PIs (2023)

University of Northern Colorado New Project Proposal grant: Morphogenesis of the Retinal Fovea and Pseudo-fovea, T. A. Engstrom, PI (2021)