Janet Blume
Associate Professor:
Engineering
Phone: +1 401 863 1498
Janet_Blume@Brown.EDU
Professor Blume's research focuses on mathematical aspects of solid mechanics. Questions of existence and uniqueness of solutions to systems of partial differential equations that arise in continuum descriptions of solid behavior are considered. Recent work in this area is concerned with finding the circumstances under which a given rotation field can be generated by a continuum deformation of a solid.
Biography
Originally from Long Island, Professor Blume got her a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from Princeton University in 1982, followed by a PhD in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology in 1986. She immediately joined the faculty in Engineering at Brown as a member of the Mechanics of Solids and Structures group, doing research in the mathematical issues in the behavior of solids undergoing large deformations.
Professor Blume has taught many engineering courses in the mechanical and civil engineering areas at all levels of the graduate and undergraduate curricula. She often teaches including both introductory engineering classes, EN 3 and EN4. She advises research theses at all levels.
In addition to the teaching and research listed above, Professor Blume is actively involved in Engineering Outreach and leads several programs aimed at bringing engineering topics into math and science education at the pre-college level.
Professor Blume lives in Providence with her husband, 2 sons, and lots of pets.
Interests
Professor Blume's research focuses on mathematical aspects of solid mechanics. For example, questions of existence and uniqueness of solutions to systems of partial differential equations that arise in continuum descriptions of solid behavior are considered. Recent work in this area is concerned with finding the circumstances under which a given rotation field can be generated by a continuum deformation of a solid. Such existence conditions are a useful guide to interpretation of experimental measurements of rotation fields.
Professor Blume is also interested in mechanics problems in Biology and Medicine.
Degrees
PhD, 1986
Awards
* Member, Society of Sigma Xi, 1982 *Student Paper award, Symposium for Computer Applications in Medical Care, 1983, * Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, 1990 * Presidential Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation, 1989 to 1995, * Philip J. Bray award for Excellence in teaching in the physical sciences, 1997. * Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, 1990
Institution
Princeton University
Affiliations
NA
Teaching
Professor Blume has taught courses at all levels of the engineering program, including the course, EN3: Introduction to Engineering, taken by all incoming engineering undergraduates.
