Wesleyan portrait of Francis W. Starr

Francis W. Starr

Professor of Physics

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Associate Director, College of Design and Engineering Studies

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Foss Professor of Physics

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Professor, Integrative Sciences

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Chair, Physics

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

Professor, Design and Engineering Studies

Exley Science Center - Complex Room 227, 265 Church Street
860-685-2044

fstarr@wesleyan.edu

Visit Professional Website

BS Carnegie Mellon University
MS Boston University
PHD Boston University

Francis W. Starr

The Starr group focuses on the emergent complexity of soft matter physics and materials science. We combine computational and theoretical methods to explore glass formation, DNA nanotechnology, polymer materials, supercooled water, and phase change materials. See the research page for more details. In Prof. Starr's group, undergraduates and graduates work side-by-side, emphasizing the connections of our work to those of our experimental collaborators.

Prof. Starr was a founder of the College of Design & Engineering Studies (CODES) and the associated IDEAS minor and major which aim to prepare students for real world success at the intersection of design and engineering.  Prof. Starr was also the inagural director of the College of Integrative Sciences which supports innovative student research across disciplines.

Academic Affiliations

Office Hours

Office hours change each semester.  Contact me for details.

Courses

Fall 2024
PHYS 567 - 01
Statistical Mechanics

Spring 2025
PHYS 340 - 01
Computational Physics