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Christoph F. Schmidt

Hertha Sponer Distinguished Professor of Physics
Physics
Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708
2316 French Family Science Center, Duke Box 90305, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Hertha Sponer Distinguished Professor of Physics · 2018 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Physics · 2018 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Co-Director of the Duke Materials Initiative · 2024 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biomedical Engineering · 2019 - Present Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Biology · 2019 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science · 2023 - Present Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering

In the News


Published May 7, 2019
Duke Adds 21 Faculty to Distinguished Faculty Rank

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Recent Publications


Nonlinear continuum description of the E. coli cell wall under high turgor pressure.

Journal Article Physical review. E · June 2025 The principal stress-bearing component of bacterial cell walls is the tough, covalently linked peptidoglycan network. This active material maintains the shape and integrity of bacterial cells in the presence of high turgor pressures while constantly growin ... Full text Cite

Tension doesn’t always propagate in a biological cell membrane

Journal Article Journal Club for Condensed Matter Physics · March 31, 2025 Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Mechanism of epidermal coordination during development and regeneration in zebrafish

ResearchCollaborating Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

University Training Program in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 1994 - 2027

Mechanosensitivity of Membrane-Actin Cortex Adhesion

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2023 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


Technical University of Munich (Germany) · 1988 D.R.

External Links


Schmidt lab